Sourcing men's knitted baseball shirts from China

Duty and classification for baseball shirts

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 4 October 2026, heading 6105 covers men's or boys' knitted or crocheted shirts. This guide concerns men's baseball shirts with a functioning shirt front, rather than every top sold as a baseball jersey. Cotton, synthetic fibres, artificial fibres and the other textile lines all carry 12% duty for goods from China. The supplied record shows no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspensions.

The cotton, synthetic and artificial fibre lines have no attached controls in the supplied record. The wool or fine animal hair line and the other textile materials line have CITES import and export controls. For CITES-listed materials, check the required permit before shipment from China with your customs broker. Confirm the species and applicable documents rather than treating the tariff control as a permit requirement for every shirt.

Confirm the commodity code against a garment sample, fabric composition and front construction. Woven shirts and T-shirts use different headings. The men's knitted rugby shirts guide covers the wider shirt heading. Keep the fibre description consistent across the order, label and customs paperwork.

Specify the button front, mesh and team lettering

Specify knitted mesh or jersey, fibre composition, fabric weight, opacity, stretch and the intended fit. Approve chest width, body length, sleeve opening, shoulder shape and hem curve against a physical sample. State whether the front opens fully, the fastening direction, button type, placket reinforcement and piping position.

For team orders, approve the lettering method, artwork, colours, player names and numbers, and placement on each size. Check lettering across the closed front so buttons do not interrupt the design. Agree washing checks for print adhesion, dye transfer and distortion before bulk production.

For sale in Great Britain, the label must show fibre content, including fur and other animal parts. Consumer products must be safe in normal or reasonably foreseeable use. Check the finished shirt for sharp fastening edges and loose attachments as part of your acceptance checks.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 1,000 men's cotton knitted baseball shirts under 6105 10 00 00, invoiced at £6,000 free on board, with £800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £6,800. Duty at 12% is £816. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £7,616, so it is £1,523.20. Import taxes total £2,339.20; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £816 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Fabric: compare fibre content, mesh structure, weight, opacity and shade with the approved sample. Compare body panels, sleeves and piping across cartons.

Fit and front: measure each ordered size against the agreed chart. Close the buttons and check placket alignment, gaping, button attachment and seam puckering.

Decoration: check every personalised name and number against the order list. Examine lettering alignment, embroidery backing, print edges and colour transfer after the agreed wash.

Labels and packing: match fibre labels, size labels and carton contents to the approved wording and size breakdown. Check for dampness, stains and loose threads on arrival. Use the inspection guide to set the inspection brief.

What goes wrong

A print approved on flat fabric can become misaligned across a button front. Dense embroidery can pucker lightweight mesh, while dark piping can transfer colour onto pale panels. Heat-applied lettering may lift after washing, and stretchy fabric can make a shirt appear correct when laid flat but gape when worn.

Keep a sealed sample with the approved fabric and decoration. Agree checks on finished garments, including a closed-front photograph and washing comparison. Reconcile personalised garments and the size breakdown before dispatch, then repeat the agreed checks on arrival.

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.