Sourcing retail-packed filament yarn from China
Man-made filament yarn put up for retail sale from China, such as polyester or viscose embroidery floss, craft yarn and nylon beading thread in skeins, balls or small spools, pays 0% UK duty under the single code 5406 00 00 00, with no anti-dumping duty. Sewing thread is a separate heading. Buyers check put-up, colour fastness, fibre labels and retail packing.
0% duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 17 November 2026, heading 5406 covers man-made filament yarn, other than sewing thread, put up for retail sale. It is a single code carrying 0% on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure. Whether yarn counts as put up for retail sale depends on the weight and form of each put-up, set out in the section notes to the tariff.
Sewing thread is covered in our sewing thread guide, and industrial filament yarn on large packages in our synthetic filament yarn guide; confirm the commodity code.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Man-made filament yarn, other than sewing thread, put up for retail sale | 5406 00 00 00 | 0% | None |
Labelling and packing
Yarn sold to consumers needs a fibre composition label under the Textile Products (Labelling and Fibre Composition) Regulations 2012, on the band or the pack. Settle the band design, colour numbers, barcodes, length and weight declarations and the carton assortment before production.
Specify fibre, yarn count and ply, lustre, colour references, colour fastness to washing and light, and the skein, ball or spool size.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 20,000 retail skeins of polyester embroidery floss under 5406 00 00 00, invoiced at £5,000 free on board, with £500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £5,500. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £5,500, so it is £1,100. 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
Colour: compare shades against the approved colour card under standard light and test fastness to washing.
Put-up: check length and weight per skein or spool and band printing.
Packing: check assortments, barcodes and carton marks. See our quality inspection guide.
Working out your own order? Send us the product on WhatsApp and we reply the same working day: WhatsApp us
What goes wrong
Retail yarn orders fail on shade, length and labels. Shades vary between dye lots, skeins are short of the declared length, colours bleed in washing, and bands carry the wrong fibre content.
Cambridge China Bridge sources craft yarns and threads for UK craft retailers and brands from small runs; see small orders.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on retail embroidery floss from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 17 November 2026, man-made filament yarn put up for retail sale under 5406 00 00 00 carried 0% from China.
Is sewing thread in heading 5406?
No. Sewing thread has its own heading, even when it is put up for retail sale.
What makes yarn put up for retail sale?
The weight and form of each put-up, such as skeins, balls or small spools, as set out in the section notes to the tariff.
Does retail yarn need a fibre label?
Yes. Yarn sold to consumers needs a fibre composition label on the band or pack.