Sourcing knitted velour fabric from China

UK duty on knitted velour fabric

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 6001 covers knitted or crocheted pile fabrics. Knitted velour belongs within the other pile fabric categories, selected by fibre composition. The relevant lines carry 8% duty for goods from China, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control.

The wider heading attaches CITES import and export controls to some long-pile and looped-pile lines. If material contains a CITES-listed specimen, importing it from China into Great Britain requires the relevant permit arrangements. Contact the Chinese management authority for the corresponding export permit and ask your customs broker to confirm the documents for the actual material.

Confirm the commodity code using the knitted construction and fibre composition, rather than the supplier's description alone. For neighbouring constructions, see the wider pile knit fabric guide.

Specify the velour pile and knitted backing

Specify the pile and backing fibre composition, knitted construction, finished mass per square metre, usable width, pile height, stretch and recovery in each direction. Agree the pile direction, sheen, colour reference and finished handle against a retained sample. Ask for a sample length that can be cut, sewn and washed before approving bulk.

Fabric sold to consumers by the metre must carry its fibre composition. Textile labels must show fibre content, including fur and other animal parts. State whether the velour is for clothing, nightwear or upholstery before commissioning tests. For upholstery cover fabrics, confirm the applicable furniture fire safety requirements with the relevant authority; a soft handle or a supplier's general test report does not establish suitability.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 8,000 metres of polyester knitted velour 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

Pile and shade: view rolls with the nap aligned, then reverse it to compare sheen. Check against the approved sample for shearing bands, bare patches, crushed pile and shade changes.

Width and weight: measure usable width and mass per unit area on sampled rolls. Compare the finished fabric with the order and record roll identity alongside each result.

Wear and washing: compare shedding and pilling with the approved sample. Check rubbing and washing colour fastness, dimensional change, stretch recovery and curling after washing.

Composition and records: compare fibre declarations, roll labels and batch test reports with the approved specification. Use the quality inspection guide to agree the inspection scope.

What goes wrong

Reversed nap can make matching panels look like different colours. Uneven shearing leaves stripes; compressed rolls flatten the pile; loose fibres shed into seams. A narrower finished width disrupts cutting plans, while poor recovery can leave stretched elbows or knees in garments.

Keep the approved sample, pile direction and acceptable defect descriptions in the order. Compare bulk rolls before dispatch and on arrival, and keep suspect dye lots separate until the shade difference is assessed. Match testing to the actual fabric, finish and intended use through testing and certification.

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.