Sourcing knitted rash guards from China

Duty depends on swimwear classification

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 20 October 2026, heading 6112 covers knitted or crocheted tracksuits, ski suits and swimwear. This guide concerns knitted rash guards that qualify as swimwear. HMRC describes swimwear by its appearance, cut and fabric, with use solely or mainly for swimming. Ask your broker to assess the actual garment rather than relying on the supplier’s product name.

Goods from China under this heading carry 8% or 12% duty. Swimwear containing by weight 5% or more rubber thread carries 8%; the other swimwear lines carry 12%. Do not assume elastane is rubber thread. The supplied tariff facts list no anti-dumping or countervailing duties, suspensions or attached import controls.

Confirm the commodity code using the garment sample, intended use and fibre composition before ordering. The table shows other swimwear lines, rather than confirming classification for every rash guard. For the wider heading, see competitive swimming suits.

Specify wet fit, seams and fabric

Specify the fibre blend, fabric weight, stretch and recovery, sleeve length, neckline, body length and size chart. Agree whether the rash guard is worn alone or beneath a wetsuit. Approve seam placement at the underarms and neck, hem construction and printed artwork on a finished sample.

The fibre label must show the fibre content. Agree permitted fibre names and percentages in the label artwork, as explained in the site’s existing textile guides. For sun protection claims, ask for laboratory evidence matching the production fabric and colours, with wet and stretched conditions addressed. Official guidance explains that stretch and wetness can change fabric protection.

Only safe consumer products may be supplied on the Great Britain market. Include seam comfort, fastening safety and the intended wearer in your product assessment, alongside performance checks.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 600 knitted rash guards, illustrative only under 6112 31 90 00, invoiced at £18,000 free on board, with £1,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £19,500. Duty at 12% is £2,340. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £21,840, so it is £4,368. Import taxes total £6,708; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £2,340 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Fit: measure chest, body and sleeve dimensions against the approved size chart; check wet fit and recovery after stretching.

Seams: stretch the underarm, shoulder and side seams; check for broken stitches, hard thread ends and rubbing at the neckline.

Fabric and print: compare bulk colours with the approved sample; check colour transfer, wet opacity and cracking or peeling when prints stretch.

Labels and evidence: check fibre wording, size labels and packing against the order; match any sun protection report to the supplied fabric and colours. Arrange quality inspection around these checks.

What goes wrong

A dry sample can fit well while the wet garment becomes loose, transparent or uncomfortable. Tight seams can restrict stretch, and rough thread ends can rub beneath a wetsuit. Specify acceptance checks on finished garments rather than approving only a fabric swatch.

A report for a different fabric or colour does not establish the performance of your order. Ask the factory to identify the tested material and prevent substitutions without your approval. Treat a change in fibre blend, knit or dye as a reason to review the evidence before accepting the batch.

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.