Sourcing needle-felt automotive carpet from China

6% duty on needle-felt automotive carpet

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 16 November 2026, heading 5704 covers felt carpets and other textile floor coverings, not tufted or flocked, whether or not made up. All supplied lines carry 6% duty for goods from China. No anti-dumping or countervailing duties, or suspensions, are listed in the supplied data.

For machine-made rolls and shaped vehicle floor coverings, start by checking 5704 90 00 90. Use the tile or hand-made entries only where their descriptions match the goods. Confirm the construction, backing and supplied form through our commodity code guide. See the wider needle-felt carpet guide for other applications.

The supplied tariff data attaches a DCMS Export Licence control to every line. Official guidance describes export licensing for cultural objects leaving Great Britain. Ask your customs broker to confirm the attached control's relevance and any declaration requirement for your import from China.

Specify the vehicle fit and carpet assembly

State whether you need roll material for conversion, moulded floor carpet or removable mats. Specify fibre composition, mass per unit area, thickness, colour, backing, adhesive and edge finish. For shaped pieces, provide the vehicle model, driving position, approved pattern, fixing locations and heel-pad position. Keep an approved sample of the complete assembly.

Agree checks for abrasion, fibre shedding, colour transfer, backing adhesion, heat ageing and odour. Ask the vehicle customer which flammability test and acceptance criteria apply to the intended installation. Test the proposed carpet, backing and adhesive together. Arrange testing and certification support before approving bulk production.

Businesses importing or selling consumer products are responsible for their safety. For carpet supplied as a vehicle component, the importer placing it on the UK market is responsible for compliance with end-of-life vehicle rules. Ask for material declarations covering the face fibre, pigments, backing and adhesive, and have the laboratory review the intended application.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 3,000 square metres of needle-felt automotive carpet in rolls under 5704 90 00 90, invoiced at £9,000 free on board, with £1,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £10,500. Duty at 6% is £630. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £11,130, so it is £2,226. Import taxes total £2,856; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £630 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Fit and retention: trial-fit production samples in the intended vehicle. Check fixing engagement, movement underfoot, pedal clearance and access to seat rails and service points.

Material and backing: measure thickness and mass per unit area against the order. Check backing adhesion, heel-pad attachment, edge binding and shedding after rubbing and flexing.

Colour and condition: compare rolls and cut pieces with the approved sample. Check for shade variation, colour transfer, persistent odour, dampness and creases that remain after unpacking.

Arrival and records: check roll dimensions, cut-piece patterns, quantities and batch identification against the packing list. Keep inspection results with the approved sample and test reports. Use our quality inspection guide to brief the inspector.

What goes wrong

A sample may fit while production pieces have shifted fixing holes, reversed patterns or excess material near the pedals. Lower felt density can cause early wear and shedding. A changed backing or adhesive can alter stiffness, odour, adhesion and the behaviour of the tested assembly.

Freeze the pattern and material assembly before ordering. Compare production samples with the approved sample, repeat the vehicle fit check and investigate substitutions before accepting the shipment. Hold affected batches apart when arrival checks show fit, adhesion or colour problems.

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.