Sourcing PVC roller blind fabric from China

Duty on PVC-coated blind fabric

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 5903 covers textile fabrics impregnated, coated, covered or laminated with plastics. PVC-coated, covered or laminated fabric falls under 5903 10 90 00; PVC-impregnated fabric has a separate line. The table separates coating constructions that share a code.

The PVC lines carry 8% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or import control for these lines. Suspensions elsewhere in the heading concern specified non-PVC products.

Confirm the commodity code using the base textile, coating composition and construction. Plastic sheet with textile backing may fall elsewhere where plastic dominates. For the wider heading, see PVC and PU coated fabrics.

Specify blackout and rolling performance

Specify the base textile, PVC formulation, usable width, total mass per square metre, thickness, face colour and backing colour. State whether the fabric should block light or provide an open screen effect. Agree a light-transmission test method and acceptance criteria rather than relying on the supplier's use of the word blackout.

Approve a hanging sample and a sample fitted to the intended roller tube. Check edge curl, tracking, coating transfer and whether the fabric sticks to itself after storage. Agree cutting, bonding and cleaning methods, together with evidence for any claimed flame resistance.

Confirm with HSE the applicable UK REACH restrictions and limits for DEHP, DBP, BBP and DIBP in the plasticised material and its intended use. Request chemical reports identifying the supplied coating grade and colour. Arrange testing and certification around that specification.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 1,500 metres of PVC-coated roller blind fabric under 5903 10 90 00, invoiced at £12,000 free on board, with £1,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £13,500. Duty at 8% is £1,080. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £14,580, so it is £2,916. Import taxes total £3,996; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,080 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Light control: inspect against a consistent light source for pinholes, thin coating patches and uneven blackout performance; compare with the approved sample.

Dimensions and shade: measure usable width, thickness and roll length; compare face and backing colours across rolls and record batch identification.

Coating: check adhesion, rubbing, tackiness and cracking after flexing; test the agreed cutting and bonding methods on bulk samples.

Rolling: fit bulk fabric to the intended tube, cycle the blind and inspect tracking, edge curl and permanent creases. Keep a retained sample using the inspection guide.

What goes wrong

A small swatch can hide uneven coating across the full width. Pinholes become visible at the window, shade differences appear between adjacent blinds, and skewed cloth rolls sideways. Packing pressure can leave creases or coating marks. Inspect full-width bulk material before dispatch and check arrival rolls before cutting.

Fabric chemical reports do not demonstrate the safety of an assembled blind. If your order includes finished blinds with looped cords, child safety devices must be installed during manufacture or supplied with the blind. Keep the fabric approval and finished-blind checks distinct.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For own-brand ranges, see sourcing for brands.