Sourcing polypropylene hand-knit yarn from China

Duty on retail polypropylene staple yarn

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, heading 5511 covers yarn of man-made staple fibres, other than sewing thread, put up for retail sale. This guide concerns polypropylene staple hand-knitting yarn. Confirm that the sample is staple yarn and that its ball or hank packaging qualifies as retail put-up.

The relevant synthetic staple lines both carry 0% duty for goods from China: 5511 10 00 00 for at least 85% synthetic fibre by weight and 5511 20 00 00 for less than 85%. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing measures, suspensions or attached import controls. The table repeats these codes for different retail forms; blend classification still needs checking.

Confirm the commodity code using the full fibre composition and packaging details. Blends depend on the fibre predominating by weight, so a polypropylene-containing blend does not automatically belong here. For wider heading context, see our polyester hand-knitting yarn guide.

Specify the polypropylene yarn and knitted sample

Specify polypropylene content and every blending fibre, staple construction, yarn count, twist, ply, net ball weight and metres per ball. Approve a knitted or crocheted sample for stitch definition, splitting, handle and the intended end use. Agree shade references, batch identification, winding style and care instructions based on sample trials.

Consumer yarn labels must show fibre composition; confirm the permitted fibre names with Trading Standards before approving the artwork. Imported packaged goods must be packed and labelled correctly. Only safe consumer products may be supplied in Great Britain. Agree the ball-band artwork and quantity checks before production, and retain the approved yarn and knitted samples.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 4,000 retail balls of polypropylene staple hand-knitting yarn, 100 g each under 5511 10 00 00, invoiced at £2,200 free on board, with £1,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £3,400. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £3,400, so it is £680. 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

Composition: test the fibre blend against the order and ball band; compare the delivered construction with the approved staple-yarn sample.

Weight and length: weigh sampled balls without their bands and check metres per ball against the agreed specification.

Knitting performance: knit or crochet arrival samples to check splitting, loose plies, knots, breaks and stitch consistency; trial the stated care method.

Shade and packing: compare lots with retained samples under consistent lighting, check colour transfer, and match band batch details to cartons. Plan checks with our quality inspection guide.

What goes wrong

A supplier can offer a different yarn construction under the same polypropylene description. Inspect the sample rather than relying on the polymer name. Changed twist or ply can alter splitting and stitch definition, while short length, uneven winding and hidden knots can interrupt a customer's project.

Mixed shade batches and incorrect fibre bands make repeat purchases difficult to match. Keep a retained sample from each accepted batch, separate stock by batch and compare repeat orders with the approved yarn and knitted sample before release.

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.