Sourcing Knitted Waterproof Socks from China

Duty and classification for waterproof socks

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 6115 covers knitted or crocheted hosiery, including socks and footwear without applied soles. This guide concerns ordinary knitted waterproof socks. See the wider socks and hosiery guide for other products within the heading. For diabetic styles, see our diabetic sock sourcing guide.

The ordinary sock lines shown carry 12% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing measures and no suspensions. It attaches CITES import and export controls to the wool or fine animal hair and other textile material lines. For any potentially listed animal fibre, ask your customs broker to confirm the species-specific permit requirements before shipment.

Treat these lines as classification candidates, not automatic codes for every laminated sock. Give your broker the fibre breakdown, membrane material, layer construction and a finished sample to confirm the commodity code. Account for import VAT separately using the duty and VAT guide.

Specify the membrane and the finished sock

Specify the outer knit, waterproof membrane, lining, bonding method, toe closure, heel position and cuff height. Agree size measurements, stretch, care instructions and acceptable changes after washing. Define the finished-pair leak test, including water exposure, flexing and the pass criterion, before approving production.

Require fibre composition labelling that is durable, legible, visible and accessible. Match the artwork to the actual textile materials. Businesses importing or selling consumer products are responsible for their safety. For this product, review cuff pressure, internal seam comfort and skin-contact materials alongside waterproof performance.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative mixed-size stock order of knitted waterproof socks under 6115 96 99 00, invoiced at £8,000 free on board, with £1,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £9,200. Duty at 12% is £1,104. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £10,304, so it is £2,060.80. Import taxes total £3,164.80; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,104 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Leaks: test finished production pairs before and after the agreed washing and flexing, keeping the cuff opening above the water.

Bonding: check the toe, heel and stretched areas for membrane splits, lifting or separation from the knit.

Fit: compare paired socks for size, heel position, toe comfort and cuff recovery against the approved sample.

Labels and packing: match fibre composition, size and care artwork to the approved specification; check for dampness and mismatched pairs at inspection and on arrival.

What goes wrong

A waterproof fabric sample does not establish that the finished sock will resist leaks at the toe or heel. Specify tests on finished production pairs. Separate water entering over the cuff from leakage through the sock when recording failures.

Bonding can separate after washing or repeated stretching, while a bulky lining can change the fit inside footwear. Retain an approved sample and compare production pairs after the agreed care cycle. Define what the waterproof claim means in actual use before approving packaging. For ski footwear, see our guide to sourcing ski socks.

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.