Sourcing lyocell knitting yarn from China

Duty on retail lyocell knitting yarn

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, heading 5511 covers yarn other than sewing thread, of man-made staple fibres, put up for retail sale. Lyocell is an artificial cellulose fibre, so retail lyocell staple yarn falls under 5511 30 00 00. The table shows product variants sharing that tariff line.

The supplied tariff data records 0% duty for goods from China throughout this heading, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duties, suspensions or attached import controls. Import VAT is normally 20%; see UK import duty and VAT.

For blends, confirm the fibre that predominates by weight and whether the packaging meets the tariff's retail put-up rules. Give your broker the composition, staple or filament construction, and ball or hank weight to confirm the commodity code. For the wider product family, see viscose hand-knitting yarn.

Specify lyocell yarn and a washed swatch

Specify lyocell content and every blending fibre, yarn count, ply, twist, net ball weight, metres per ball, shade, dye lot and winding format. Approve a knitted swatch as well as a loose skein: assess stitch definition, drape, splitting and surface fuzz before and after washing.

Consumer yarn must carry its fibre composition. Confirm with the relevant authority how to name lyocell and any blending fibres on the label rather than relying on a trade name alone. Agree band artwork, recommended needles, knitting tension and care instructions against the approved sample. Consumer products supplied in Great Britain must be safe in normal or reasonably foreseeable use.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 500 kg of lyocell knitting yarn in 100 g retail balls; illustrative order under 5511 30 00 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 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £9,200, so it is £1,840. With no duty, the only import tax is the VAT, which a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Fibre and bands: compare composition test results with the order and printed fibre declaration; match each band's dye lot to the carton.

Weight and length: condition and weigh sampled balls, check metres against yarn count, and unwind samples for knots, breaks and tangled centres.

Shade and colour transfer: compare each dye lot with the approved sample under consistent lighting; check washing and rubbing performance, including dark shades.

Knitted performance: wash and dry swatches by the proposed care method, then assess dimensional change, stitch distortion, pilling and surface fuzz. Arrange quality inspection against the approved sample.

What goes wrong

A loose skein can look acceptable while the knitted fabric grows, twists or develops surface fuzz after washing. Insufficient twist can cause splitting during knitting. Short metreage and shade differences between lots can leave customers unable to finish a garment.

Keep a retained skein and knitted wash sample from each approved lot. Hold delivery for review when composition, shade, usable length or washed performance differs from the agreed specification. Check cartons on arrival for dampness, odour and damaged bands before releasing stock.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For repeat volumes, see container programmes.