Sourcing paper-machine press felts from China
Paper-machine press felts from China carry a flat 4% UK duty across the relevant tariff lines. Classification depends on fibre, construction and mass per square metre. UK REACH can require chemical information when supplying the finished felt. Cambridge China Bridge sources paper-machine press felts.
4% duty on paper-machine press felts
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 5911 covers textile products and articles for technical uses. Its paper-machine fabric and felt branches cover endless products or products fitted with linking devices. Silk or man-made fibre woven fabrics with a needled batt, weighing 650 g/m² or more, are specifically described under 5911 32 11 00.
The relevant paper-machine felt lines carry 4% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff snapshot records no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, tariff suspension or attached import control for these lines. The alternative rows distinguish construction, fibre and weight; they are not interchangeable codes for the same felt.
Confirm the commodity code using the fibre composition, base construction, batt description, mass per square metre and endless or linking arrangement. For other products within this heading, see our filter cloth and technical textiles guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silk or man-made fibre press felts with needled batt, at least 650 g/m² | 5911 32 11 00 | 4% | None |
| Other silk or man-made fibre paper-machine felts, at least 650 g/m² | 5911 32 19 00 | 4% | None |
| Paper-machine felts of other textile materials, at least 650 g/m² | 5911 32 90 00 | 4% | None |
| Other silk or man-made fibre paper-machine felts, below 650 g/m² | 5911 31 19 00 | 4% | None |
Specify the felt for its press position
Send the mill's machine drawing and identify the press position, paper grade, operating speed, temperature and cleaning conditions. Specify finished width and loop length, measurement tension, fibre composition, base weave, batt construction, mass, thickness and running direction. State whether installation requires an endless felt or a linking seam.
Agree air permeability at a stated pressure, water-handling performance, strength and dimensional stability using comparable test conditions. Ask for results from the offered construction and a retained sample. Use a machine trial to assess sheet marking, dewatering and tracking before accepting repeat production.
Ask for chemical information covering fibres, finishes and coatings. When supplying an article containing a UK REACH Candidate List substance above 0.1% by weight, provide the business recipient with sufficient information for safe use, including the substance name.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 4 replacement press felts for a small paper mill, illustrative only under 5911 32 11 00, invoiced at £14,000 free on board, with £1,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £15,200. Duty at 4% is £608. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £15,808, so it is £3,161.60. Import taxes total £3,769.60; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £608 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Fit: measure width and loop length under the agreed tension; check seam alignment, linking components and running-direction identification against the drawing.
Construction: compare the base weave and batt with the approved sample; check mass, thickness, bare patches, loose fibres and surface contamination.
Performance: compare permeability across the width and around the loop using the agreed pressure; review strength and dimensional-stability results for the supplied batch.
Arrival: inspect wrapping for moisture and damage, check for creases and distorted seams, and match each felt's identification to its intended press position.
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What goes wrong
A felt can match the nominal dimensions yet fit poorly when its length was measured under a different tension. Uneven batt density can create inconsistent water handling or sheet marks. Seam distortion, fibre shedding and changes to the base construction can also undermine an otherwise acceptable sample.
Keep the approved construction and test conditions in the purchase specification. Record arrival defects before installation and compare trial performance with the agreed acceptance criteria. Use factory verification to check the supplier's weaving, needling and testing capability.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on paper-machine press felts from China?
The relevant paper-machine felt lines carry 4% duty in the supplied tariff snapshot, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control.
Which commodity code covers needled press felts?
5911 32 11 00 describes silk or man-made fibre woven fabrics with a needled batt for paper machines, weighing 650 g/m² or more. Confirm the actual construction before declaring.
Can I order a replacement from the old felt's dimensions?
Use the machine drawing and original specification as well. A used felt may have stretched or compacted; agree measurement tension, press position, seam and running direction.
How should I compare Chinese press-felt samples?
Compare construction, mass, thickness, permeability and strength under identical conditions. Assess dewatering, tracking and sheet marking through a trial in the intended press position.