Rope, twine and cordage from China
Polypropylene, polyethylene, nylon and polyester rope and twine from China pay 8% UK duty, sisal 12% and jute twine 6%, while made-up articles such as tow ropes pay 4%, with no anti-dumping duty. Breaking strength and linear density are what buyers pay for, and lifting or climbing ropes bring machinery, lifting and PPE rules. Cambridge China Bridge sources rope and twine.
Synthetic rope and twine from China pay 8% UK duty, sisal 12%, jute 6% and made-up rope articles 4%. Breaking strength, lifting rules and an example.
Fibre and making-up decide the rate
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 26 September 2026, twine, cordage and rope of heading 5607 carried 8% duty on goods from China when made of polypropylene, polyethylene, nylon or polyester, including baler twine, 12% when made of sisal and 6% for jute twine, with no anti-dumping measure. Rope made up into an article, such as a tow rope with fittings, falls in 5609 at 4%, while knotted netting is heading 5608 and rope with a woven textile cover is classified as a made-up textile article.
Within synthetic rope the tariff splits at 50,000 decitex, or 5 g per metre, and between plaited and twisted rope, although the rate on the lines checked was the same. The only suspension found was for surgical poly(glycolic acid) twine. Check the commodity code for each construction, and see our steel wire rope guide for wire rope.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sisal rope and twine, not for agricultural machinery | 5607 21 00 90 / 5607 29 00 00 | 12% | None |
| Polypropylene or polyethylene binder or baler twine | 5607 41 00 00 | 8% | None |
| Polypropylene or polyethylene rope over 5 g/m, plaited or braided | 5607 49 11 00 | 8% | None |
| Nylon or polyester rope over 5 g/m, plaited or braided | 5607 50 11 90 | 8% | None |
| Jute and other bast fibre twine and rope | 5607 90 20 20 | 6% | None |
| Articles of rope or cordage, such as tow ropes | 5609 00 00 00 | 4% | None |
Standards and where lifting rules apply
Fibre rope is specified by material, construction, diameter, linear density and minimum breaking strength. ISO 2307 sets how linear density, lay length and breaking force are measured, and ISO 1140, ISO 1141 and ISO 1346 set requirements for polyamide, polyester and polypropylene ropes. Put the standard and the minimum breaking force in the order, because a lighter rope can look identical.
Rope sold for lifting, such as rope slings, is a lifting accessory under the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008 and needs a declaration and marked working load limit, and users must inspect it under the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998. Climbing and work-at-height ropes are personal protective equipment: dynamic ropes are tested to EN 892 and low-stretch kernmantel ropes to EN 1891, with an approved body certificate. See also our fishing tackle guide.
Worked duty example
An invented example rather than a quote: 12 tonnes of braided polypropylene rope, commodity code 5607 49 11 00, bought for £24,000 free on board, with £3,000 of freight and insurance, so £27,000 is the value customs works from. Duty at the 8% rate for polypropylene rope is £2,160. VAT at 20% applies to £29,160, so £5,832. A VAT-registered buyer usually recovers the VAT, so the border adds £2,160 to the landed cost. Made-up tow ropes and other articles of rope under 5609 00 00 00 would pay 4% on the same value, and sisal rope 12%. See calculating UK import duty and VAT for the method.
What goes wrong
Rope is sold by weight and strength, and both can be short. Coils arrive short of the stated length, linear density is lower than the specification so the rope is lighter per metre, breaking force falls below the minimum, and polypropylene without UV stabiliser goes brittle outside within a season. Splices slip, colours bleed on wet rope, and a rope sold for lifting arrives with no working load limit or declaration.
Weigh and measure coils, test linear density and breaking force to ISO 2307 on samples from each lot, check diameter under the reference tension, ask for UV-stabiliser confirmation on outdoor polypropylene, pull-test splices and terminations, and do not sell rope for lifting or climbing without the certificate and marking those uses require.
Cambridge China Bridge sources synthetic and natural fibre rope and twine for agricultural, marine, retail and packaging buyers, with lot breaking tests agreed in the contract. Ask us about rope and twine sourcing.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on rope from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 26 September 2026, synthetic rope and twine carried 8% from China, sisal 12%, jute twine 6% and made-up rope articles 4%.
Which standard covers rope testing?
ISO 2307 sets how linear density and breaking force are measured; ISO 1140, 1141 and 1346 cover polyamide, polyester and polypropylene ropes.
Can I sell rope for lifting?
Only with a declaration and marked working load limit under the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008.
What fails most often?
Short coils, low linear density, low breaking force and polypropylene without UV stabiliser.