Sourcing PVC and PU coated fabrics from China
Textile fabrics impregnated, coated, covered or laminated with plastics from China, including PVC tarpaulin fabric, PU-coated fabric and faux leather, pay 8% UK duty, with no anti-dumping duty. Plasticised PVC must meet the UK REACH phthalate limits, and upholstery fabrics must pass the furniture fire tests. Cambridge China Bridge sources coated fabrics.
PVC-coated tarpaulin fabric, PU-coated fabric, faux leather on a textile base and laminated fabrics pay 8% UK duty from China. Rules and a worked example.
A flat 8%
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 26 September 2026, textile fabrics impregnated, coated, covered or laminated with poly(vinyl chloride), with polyurethane or with other plastics, including those with the plastic forming the right side, carried 8% duty on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure.
Finished tarpaulins, awnings and tents are in heading 6306, rubberised fabrics in 5906, and plastic sheet with a textile backing where the plastic dominates may fall in chapter 39; confirm the commodity code from the construction.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| PVC-impregnated fabric | 5903 10 10 00 | 8% | None |
| PVC-coated, covered or laminated fabric | 5903 10 90 00 | 8% | None |
| PU-impregnated fabric | 5903 20 10 00 | 8% | None |
| PU-coated or laminated fabric, other | 5903 20 90 90 | 8% | None |
| Other plastics, plastic forming the right side | 5903 90 91 00 | 8% | None |
| Other plastic-coated fabric | 5903 90 99 00 | 8% | None |
Chemicals and fire
Entry 51 of Annex XVII to UK REACH limits the phthalates DEHP, DBP, BBP and DIBP to 0.1% by weight in plasticised material in articles, and entry 61 bans dimethylfumarate above 0.1 mg/kg in articles, a biocide once found in sachets packed with faux leather. Ask for a phthalate test on each PVC grade and a restricted substances statement for PU coatings.
Coated fabric used to cover upholstered furniture for the UK must pass the cigarette and match tests of the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988, and fabric for marquees, banners or public buildings is often specified with a flame retardancy standard, so match the grade to its end use.
Worked duty example
Suppose, purely for illustration, you import 40,000 metres of PVC-coated polyester fabric under 5903 10 90 00. At £52,000 free on board and £4,000 to ship and insure, the customs value is £56,000. PVC-coated fabric at 8% pay £4,480 of duty; VAT is then worked out on value plus duty, £60,480, giving £12,096. Of the £16,576 paid at import, only the £4,480 of duty stays a cost for a VAT-registered business. The method is set out in how UK import duty and VAT work.
What goes wrong
Coated fabrics fail on adhesion, weight and cold. PVC that delaminates from the base cloth, coatings thinner than the stated weight, and seams that will not weld or glue properly are the common failures. Cheap PVC stiffens and cracks in winter, PU faux leather peels or goes sticky through hydrolysis within a couple of years, and a strong smell usually means plasticiser or solvent that may fail the chemical limits.
Test coating weight, tensile and tear strength, coating adhesion and cold crack temperature on samples from the bulk, run a hydrolysis test on PU, weld or glue test pieces as the end user will, and check width, shade and surface defects roll by roll at inspection.
Cambridge China Bridge sources PVC and PU coated fabrics and faux leather, with coating weight, chemical tests and fire performance agreed before the order. Read how we source technical textiles.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on PVC-coated fabric from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 26 September 2026, PVC, PU and other plastic-coated fabrics of heading 5903 carried 8% duty from China.
Do PVC-coated fabrics need a phthalate test?
Yes. UK REACH entry 51 limits DEHP, DBP, BBP and DIBP to 0.1% by weight in plasticised material.
Where do finished tarpaulins go?
Made-up tarpaulins, awnings and tents are in heading 6306.
Must faux leather for sofas pass fire tests?
Yes. Upholstery covers must pass the cigarette and match tests of the 1988 furniture fire regulations.