Sourcing PPS needle-punched felt from China
PPS needle-punched felt from China carries a flat 6% UK duty under the relevant felt lines, with no listed trade remedy or suspension. Uncoated felt carries a cat and dog fur control: products containing that fur are banned. Specify fibre, scrim and finish. Cambridge China Bridge sources PPS needle-punched felt.
PPS felt codes and UK duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 5602 covers felt whether or not impregnated, coated, covered or laminated. For PPS needle-punched felt, the relevant lines are 5602 10 19 00 without those treatments and 5602 10 90 00 with them. Both carry 6% duty for goods from China, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. The table repeats these codes for different supply forms and finishes.
The tariff attaches cat and dog fur import and export controls to 5602 10 19 00. Imports and exports of that fur and products made from it are banned. Ask the factory to document the felt and scrim composition, and have your customs broker confirm how to declare the synthetic material against the attached control. The supplied tariff data lists no controls for 5602 10 90 00.
Confirm the commodity code using the manufacturing description, fibre composition and exact treatment, rather than the supplier's product name alone. For wider heading context, see our polyimide needle-punched felt guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| PPS needle-punched felt rolls, without impregnation, coating, covering or lamination | 5602 10 19 00 | 6% | None |
| Impregnated PPS needle-punched felt | 5602 10 90 00 | 6% | None |
Specify the PPS fibre, scrim and filtration finish
State whether PPS is used throughout the felt and supporting scrim, or whether either contains another fibre. Agree mass per unit area, thickness, usable width, roll length, tensile strength and air permeability, with tolerances and test conditions. Identify the working face and specify singeing, calendering, impregnation or membrane lamination separately.
For filter-bag material, give the factory the operating temperature profile, gas composition, moisture conditions and cleaning method. Agree heat-shrinkage and filtration acceptance criteria for that application. Compare samples of the actual finished construction, including the scrim, rather than accepting a fibre datasheet as proof of felt performance.
UK REACH restrictions can limit, ban or set conditions on substances being placed on the market or used. Request the composition of impregnants, coatings and membrane treatments so applicable restrictions can be checked. Use testing and certification support to agree a test brief for the ordered construction.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative trial consignment of uncoated PPS needle-punched felt rolls under 5602 10 19 00, invoiced at £14,000 free on board, with £1,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £15,500. Duty at 6% is £930. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £16,430, so it is £3,286. Import taxes total £4,216; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £930 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Composition: match batch documents and agreed fibre-identification results to the ordered PPS felt and scrim.
Dimensions: weigh cut samples and measure thickness across the width; check usable width, roll length and winding against the order.
Performance: compare air permeability, tensile strength and heat-shrinkage results using the agreed conditions and finished material.
Surface and packing: look for thin patches, holes, loose fibres, uneven treatment and membrane separation; check dry wrapping, intact cores and batch identification. See quality inspection explained.
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What goes wrong
A PPS face layer can conceal a different scrim material, while a sample with one finish may be followed by production with another. Uneven needling or calendering can leave variable thickness and airflow. Keep an approved finished sample and require agreement before any change to fibre, scrim or treatment.
A felt can match its basic dimensions yet fail in the buyer's filter system. Shrinkage, surface shedding, membrane separation or unsuitable airflow may only become apparent under operating conditions. Inspect arriving rolls before cutting and trial the material in the intended process before committing to a repeat order.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on PPS needle-punched felt from China?
The relevant heading 5602 lines carry 6% duty in the supplied tariff reading, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension.
Does coated PPS felt use a different commodity code?
The supplied tariff distinguishes untreated needleloom felt at 5602 10 19 00 from impregnated, coated, covered or laminated material at 5602 10 90 00. Confirm the actual construction with your broker.
What should I specify for PPS filter felt?
Specify felt and scrim fibres, mass per unit area, thickness, air permeability, tensile strength and surface treatment. Agree test conditions and application-specific heat-shrinkage criteria.
Is a PPS fibre datasheet enough to approve the felt?
Approve the finished felt construction, including its scrim and treatment. Ask for batch results and trial it under the intended process conditions before a repeat order.