Sourcing picnic blankets from China
Picnic blankets classified as camping goods under heading 6306 carry a flat 12% UK duty from China. Confirm classification from the finished construction and intended use, rather than the supplier's product name. Textile fibre labelling and consumer product safety matter when selling them. Cambridge China Bridge sources picnic blankets.
A flat duty for qualifying camping blankets
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, heading 6306 covers camping goods as well as tarpaulins, tents and sails. The supplied cotton and other-textile camping lines carry 12% duty from China, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control. The heading's field-hospital tent suspension does not cover picnic blankets.
The table includes tarpaulin lines only for comparison with separate ground covers. They are not alternative picnic-blanket codes to select by price. HMRC's picnic-rug notice concerns a laminated textile design and explicitly describes a change in Northern Ireland practice. Confirm the commodity code for your actual construction and destination.
For related picnic products, see the picnic cooler bags guide. Keep the blanket and any separately supplied bag clearly described in the quotation and packing list.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other cotton camping goods, including qualifying picnic blankets | 6306 90 00 19 | 12% | None |
| Other textile camping goods, including qualifying picnic blankets | 6306 90 00 90 | 12% | None |
| Synthetic-fibre tarpaulins, for comparison with separate ground covers | 6306 12 00 00 | 12% | None |
| Other textile tarpaulins, for comparison with separate ground covers | 6306 19 00 00 | 12% | None |
Specify the face fabric and ground backing
Agree the face fabric, fibre composition, fabric weight, finished dimensions, backing material, bonding method and edge binding. State whether the blanket is intended for damp grass, sand or dry ground. Distinguish moisture resistance from a waterproof claim, and agree how the finished sample will be checked.
Specify the folding arrangement, closure, handle attachment and care instructions. Approve a finished sample after washing and drying by the proposed care method. For sales in Great Britain, textile labels must show fibre content. Businesses importing or selling consumer products are responsible for their safety.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: An illustrative wholesale order of cotton picnic blankets under 6306 90 00 19, invoiced at £9,000 free on board, with £800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £9,800. Duty at 12% is £1,176. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £10,976, so it is £2,195.20. Import taxes total £3,371.20; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,176 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Fabric and labels: compare bulk fabric, colour, dimensions and fibre labels with the approved sample and specification.
Backing: check for pinholes, cracking, peeling and exposed adhesive; test the agreed moisture-resistance claim on the finished blanket.
Make-up: inspect binding and corners for open stitching; pull handles and closures and check that the blanket folds and fastens properly.
Care and arrival: wash a sample by the proposed instructions, check shrinkage and colour transfer, and inspect cartons for dampness or mould. Agree these checks before quality inspection.
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What goes wrong
A soft face fabric can hide a weak backing. Folding can expose cracks, washing can separate bonded layers, and moisture can enter through damaged edges. Handle stitching can tear when the folded blanket is carried. Check finished samples rather than accepting a backing swatch as proof of performance.
Avoid approving labels and packaging before the construction is settled. A changed fibre blend, thinner backing or different adhesive can make the delivered product unlike the sample. Record the approved materials and care method, then compare production and arrival samples against them.
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 picnic blankets from China?
The supplied heading 6306 camping-goods lines carry 12% duty from China, with no listed trade remedy. Confirm that your finished picnic blanket belongs in those lines.
Are picnic blankets always classified as camping goods?
Confirm the finished construction and intended use. HMRC's notice covers a particular laminated picnic rug and describes a change in Northern Ireland practice.
Do picnic blankets need fibre labels?
For sales in Great Britain, textile labels must show fibre content. Agree the label against the actual materials used in production.
What should I test on a waterproof picnic blanket?
Agree a finished-product moisture test, then check backing, edges and bonding after folding and washing. Do not accept a fabric swatch alone as evidence for the finished blanket.