Sourcing plaited water-hyacinth mats from China

Zero duty on water-hyacinth mats

Heading 4601 covers plaits and plaiting materials assembled into strips or sheets, including mats and matting. Plaited water-hyacinth mats are candidates for 4601 29 10 00, the line for mats of other vegetable materials made of plaits. The table also shows alternative construction and related plait or sheet inputs; these are not interchangeable descriptions for a finished mat.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 4 October 2026, all supplied heading 4601 lines carried 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied data shows no anti-dumping or countervailing measures, suspensions or attached import controls. This tariff snapshot does not establish that every material or treatment is acceptable.

Confirm the commodity code using the material composition, photographs and construction details, including backing and edge binding. For other materials and products within this heading, see the bamboo and seagrass mats and screens guide.

Specify the plaits, edges and drying

Specify water-hyacinth stems rather than an unspecified mixture of plant fibres. Ask for dried, processed material without seeds or viable plant fragments, and records of the drying method. If the supplier proposes living plant material, confirm acceptability with APHA before ordering. Agree dimensions, thickness, plait width, weave pattern, edge binding and any backing against an approved sample.

Set an agreed moisture limit and acceptable colour variation. State whether the mat is a placemat or a floor mat, and assess flatness, snagging and movement on the intended surface. Consumer products sold in Great Britain must be safe in normal or reasonably foreseeable use. Require disclosure of dyes, coatings and mould treatments.

Confirm applicable UK REACH restrictions on dimethyl fumarate with HSE before ordering. Ask the factory how it prevents mould and arrange testing where this chemical may have been used. Make any cleaning or heat-resistance claims conditional on checks of the finished mat.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of 2,000 plaited water-hyacinth placemats under 4601 29 10 00, invoiced at £8,000 free on board, with £1,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £9,200. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £9,200, so it is £1,840. With no duty, the only import tax is the VAT, which a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Dryness: check sampled mats against the agreed moisture limit, inspect inside stacked bundles and reject visible mould or a musty smell.

Plaits and binding: compare the weave with the approved sample, pull gently at joins and check for loose ends, broken stems and sharp projections.

Dimensions and flatness: measure the agreed dimensions, lay mats on the intended surface and check curling, ripples and backing attachment.

Colour and packing: check shade consistency and colour transfer with an agreed rub test, then inspect cartons for dampness and identify any treatment sachets.

What goes wrong

Damp stems sealed into bundles can arrive mouldy even when the outer carton looks dry. Uneven plait tension produces ripples, while weak edge binding lets the mat unravel. A sample with selected fibres may also hide the coarse stems, colour variation and loose joins found in production.

Record acceptable natural variation separately from defects. Check packed production mats before dispatch and repeat the moisture, flatness and binding checks on arrival before releasing stock. Use the quality inspection guide to turn the approved sample and specification into an inspection brief.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For repeat volumes, see container programmes.