Sourcing knitted roller pile fabric from China

Fabric duty and classification

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 6001 covers knitted or crocheted pile fabrics, including long pile and terry fabrics. This guide concerns knitted fabric supplied to make paint-roller covers. Select the line from the actual fibre composition and pile construction rather than the supplier's description of its intended use.

All supplied lines carry 8% duty for goods from China, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. The tariff attaches CITES export controls to synthetic long-pile fabric and both import and export controls to certain other long-pile and looped-pile lines. For any affected line, confirm the requirement with your customs broker before shipping.

Send the broker a fabric sample, composition statement and construction details to confirm the commodity code. For the wider fabric family, see sliver-knit pile fabric. For assembled products, use the separate paint-roller guide.

Specify the pile and backing for your paint

Specify pile and backing fibre composition separately, pile height and density, fabric mass, usable width, stretch direction and backing finish. Tell the mill whether you will cut and wrap the fabric or bond it by another process. Agree the adhesive, core material and curing conditions used for the sample roller.

Trial the fabric with your intended paint and surface. Compare paint pickup, release, splatter, finish texture and cleaning with the approved sample. Check backing adhesion after wet use and cleaning. Keep a signed fabric sample and a roller made from it.

UK REACH restrictions can limit, ban or impose conditions on substances placed on the market or used. Ask the mill for information on dyes, backing treatments and finishes so you can assess applicable restrictions for supply in Great Britain.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 1,200 metres of polyester knitted paint-roller pile fabric in rolls, illustrative only 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

Pile: compare height, density and shearing across the roll; brush and tape-test samples for loose fibres, then check shedding during a paint trial.

Dimensions: measure usable width, fabric mass and stretch against the order; check whether cut strips distort or curl during wrapping.

Backing: inspect holes, dropped stitches and uneven treatment; make sample rollers and check adhesion after exposure to the intended paint and cleaning method.

Roll condition: check crushed pile, dampness and contamination; match roll identification to the production batch and retain samples. Use an agreed inspection brief.

What goes wrong

Loose fibres leave hairs in the paint film. Uneven shearing or crushed pile changes the finish, while inconsistent density changes pickup and release. Excessive stretch can distort strips during wrapping and leave gaps or raised seams.

A backing that bonds well when dry may lift during painting or cleaning. Approve the fabric through your actual roller-making process and paint trial before accepting bulk rolls. Inspect incoming fabric before cutting so a roll defect does not spread through finished stock.

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.