Sourcing polyester-wool suiting from China

UK duty on polyester-wool suiting

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, the polyester-staple fabrics mixed mainly or solely with wool or fine animal hair listed here carry 8% duty from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension for these lines.

Heading 5515 covers other woven fabrics of synthetic staple fibres. For this family, distinguish carded woollen cloth from combed worsted cloth, then unbleached or bleached fabric from other finishes. Confirm the actual fibre composition rather than classifying from the name ‘suiting’. See the wider blended-fabric guide.

The tariff attaches CITES import and export controls to these lines. Animal parts and items made from them can be CITES specimens; listed species require permits. Obtain the animal species details and ask your customs broker to confirm the documents needed for the China shipment and any onward export. Confirm the commodity code using the fibre report, wool processing and fabric finish.

Specify the wool blend and tailoring performance

Specify polyester staple and wool content, carded or combed yarn, yarn count, weave, mass per square metre, usable width and finish. Agree the handle, drape, shade band and intended garment care method against an approved sample. Ask for a sewn and pressed trial panel to assess seam appearance, crease recovery and surface shine.

Textile labels must show fibre content. Use a composition test to support the label rather than the mill’s quality name. Confirm with the relevant authority which UK REACH restrictions on azo dyes and aromatic amines apply to the intended textile use, including direct and prolonged skin contact. Ask for relevant dye test reports covering the ordered colours and keep them with the fabric specification.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 1,800 metres of dyed worsted polyester-wool suiting fabric under 5515 13 99 00, invoiced at £18,000 free on board, with £1,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £19,200. Duty at 8% is £1,536. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £20,736, so it is £4,147.20. Import taxes total £5,683.20; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,536 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Composition: compare the laboratory fibre result with the order and proposed label; check the declared animal fibre species.

Rolls: measure usable width, length and weight; inspect weaving faults, bowing and shade differences between rolls against the approved sample.

Wear: check pilling, tear strength and seam slippage against agreed acceptance criteria, using fabric from the production lot.

Care and pressing: test dimensional change after the agreed care process and inspect pressed trial seams for puckering or shine. Record arrival findings using the quality inspection guide.

What goes wrong

A sample can have the expected handle while the delivered blend differs. Pilling, seam slippage and shade variation can spoil suits even when the fabric looks acceptable on the roll. Compare production cloth with the approved sample and test it before cutting.

A care method agreed for another blend may produce unwanted dimensional change in this cloth. Check the intended cleaning and pressing process on the actual lot, and retain labelled samples from each dye lot so repeat orders can be compared.

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.