Sourcing knitted faux astrakhan fabric from China

A flat 8% duty

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 6001 covers knitted or crocheted pile fabrics, including long pile and terry fabrics. Knitted faux astrakhan imitates the tightly curled surface of lamb fur. The table gives construction-dependent options for man-made fibre and wool versions; the trade name alone does not settle the classification.

All listed lines carry 8% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension recorded. The tariff attaches CITES import and export controls to some long-pile and looped-pile lines, including the wool looped-pile line shown here. For material from a species listed in Annex A, B or C, CITES permits are required. Confirm the applicable documents for a China shipment with your customs broker.

Give your broker the fibre composition, a fabric sample and details of the pile construction to confirm the commodity code. For the wider family, see our knitted bouclé pile fabric guide.

Specify the curl and knitted backing

Approve a sample showing the curl size, density, direction and sheen. Specify pile and backing fibres, mass per square metre, usable width, stretch and recovery, and the intended care method. Record whether the curled surface is formed by loops or by finishing the pile. Ask for a sample large enough to cut and sew representative panels.

Fabric sold by the metre to consumers must carry its fibre composition. Describe the product clearly as faux astrakhan, without suggesting that it is real fur. Confirm with the Health and Safety Executive whether UK REACH restrictions on azo dyes apply to textiles intended for prolonged skin contact; request suitable test evidence for dyed qualities intended for that use.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 1,200 metres of polyester knitted faux astrakhan fabric in rolls under 6001 92 00 00, invoiced at £12,000 free on board, with £1,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £13,200. Duty at 8% is £1,056. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £14,256, so it is £2,851.20. Import taxes total £3,907.20; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,056 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Curl: compare bulk rolls with the approved sample for curl definition, density, bare patches and flattened areas, before and after the agreed care treatment.

Backing: measure usable width and mass per square metre, check stretch recovery and edge curl, and sew sample seams to look for distortion or pile pulling out.

Colour and wear: compare shades with the pile facing the same direction; check rubbing, shedding, snagging and pilling against agreed acceptance criteria.

Roll condition: check for crushed pile, dampness, stains and joins; match roll identification and measured quantities to the packing list. Use our quality inspection guide to brief the inspection.

What goes wrong

A small swatch can hide uneven curl across a roll. Bulk fabric may have loose, open curls, visible backing or a different sheen from the approved sample. Compression during packing can flatten the surface, while inconsistent finishing can leave bands that become obvious across coat panels.

A stretchy backing can distort seams, and different pile directions can make matching panels look like different shades. Keep an approved reference sample, agree the cutting direction and care treatment, and inspect bulk fabric before shipment rather than relying on photographs.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For own-brand ranges, see sourcing for brands.