Sourcing PTFE needle-punched felt from China

A flat 6% duty on felt

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 5602 covers felt, whether or not impregnated, coated, covered or laminated. For PTFE needle-punched felt, distinguish untreated needleloom felt under 5602 10 19 00 from treated needleloom felt under 5602 10 90 00. The other-felt table rows are classification comparisons, rather than suggested codes for needle-punched material.

All supplied lines carry 6% duty for goods from China, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duties and no suspensions. The untreated needleloom line and the other-felt comparison lines carry cat and dog fur import controls. Imports and exports of that fur and products made from it are banned. Obtain a composition declaration and ask your customs broker to confirm the entry requirement. The treated needleloom line has no controls listed in the supplied snapshot.

Confirm the commodity code using the manufacturing process, fibre composition and details of any impregnation, coating or membrane lamination. For another material within the wider heading, see our PPS needle-punched felt guide.

Specify the PTFE fibre, scrim and finish

State whether the felt fibres and supporting scrim are PTFE or a blend, and identify every component separately. Agree mass per unit area, thickness, usable width, roll length and tolerances. Describe the surface finish and whether a membrane is laminated onto the felt. Approve a sample of the exact construction before ordering production.

For filtration, agree air permeability and its test conditions, tensile strength in each direction, and performance under your operating temperature, gas chemistry and cleaning cycle. Request chemical information for the fibre, scrim and finish, including testing for perfluorooctanoic acid where appropriate. REACH restrictions can limit, ban or condition the marketing or use of substances. Products containing persistent organic pollutants may be used only within specified exceptions to the ban.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative trial order of untreated PTFE needle-punched felt in 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 the batch documents to the ordered PTFE fibre, scrim and finish; check that a report covers the supplied construction.

Dimensions: weigh cut samples and measure thickness across the roll; check usable width, roll length and winding against the order.

Filtration: compare air permeability and tensile results with the agreed methods and tolerances; inspect for thin patches, holes and loose fibres.

Surface and packing: inspect any membrane for lifting, wrinkles and damage; check roll cores, wrapping and batch identification on arrival.

What goes wrong

A quotation can describe a PTFE surface while leaving the underlying fibre or scrim unspecified. A replacement scrim, changed finish or uneven felt weight can make the delivered material behave differently from the approved sample. Membrane lifting, pinholes and crushed rolls can also undermine an otherwise acceptable batch.

Keep an approved construction sample and compare production and arrival samples against it. Agree how failed rolls will be identified and resolved before shipment. Use quality inspection to define the checks, and testing and certification support to match chemical and performance evidence to the actual material.

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.