Sourcing nylon elastane tricot fabric from China

8% duty on qualifying nylon elastane tricot

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 4 November 2026, heading 6004 covers knitted or crocheted fabrics wider than 30 cm containing at least 5% by weight of elastomeric yarn or rubber thread, excluding heading 6001. Nylon elastane tricot without rubber thread falls under the synthetic-fibre line 6004 10 00 10 when it meets those conditions. The table shows variants within that same line.

The relevant line carries 8% duty on goods from China, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control. The wider heading includes a 6% line, 6004 90 00 00, carrying cat and dog fur import and export controls. Cat and dog fur, and products containing it, cannot be imported, exported or placed on the UK market.

Confirm the commodity code using construction, finished width, fibre composition and whether rubber thread is present. Do not classify by the word tricot alone. See the wider warp-knit fabrics guide for related constructions.

Specify the stretch and finished width

State the nylon and elastane composition, tricot construction, yarn details, mass per square metre and usable width after finishing. Agree stretch and recovery in both fabric directions, the test method and acceptance criteria. Specify whether the surface is brushed, printed or untreated, and retain an approved sample and colour reference.

For lingerie or sportswear, assess opacity while stretched, handle against the skin and recovery after repeated extension and washing. Check the intended garment pattern against the finished fabric rather than an unfinished mill sample.

Fabric sold to consumers by the metre must show fibre composition using the listed fibre names. For fabric bought to make garments, the maker labels the garment, so verify the mill's composition before using it for that label.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 8,000 metres of dyed nylon elastane tricot in rolls under 6004 10 00 10, 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

Composition and identity: compare the tested fibre composition with the order, mill certificate and roll identification.

Width and weight: measure usable width and mass per square metre across sampled rolls, with the fabric relaxed, and compare with the agreed finished specification.

Stretch and recovery: test both directions using the agreed method, repeat after washing and check for residual bagging, edge curl and loss of opacity.

Shade and surface: compare rolls and edge-to-centre shade with the approved colour reference; inspect for needle lines, holes, snags and print cracking under stretch.

What goes wrong

A sample can feel right while bulk rolls arrive narrower, heavier or less elastic after finishing. Poor recovery leaves garments baggy, and testing only relaxed fabric can miss transparency or print cracking during wear. Brushed surfaces may pill, while needle lines become visible across cut panels.

Shade differences between rolls create mismatched panels, and dark colours may rub off or bleed during washing. Keep dye lots identifiable, compare washed bulk samples with the approved sample and record faults before cutting. Use an agreed roll inspection plan through the quality inspection guide.

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.