Rubberised fabrics and cloth tapes from China
Rubberised textile fabrics from China, including rubber-coated and laminated woven fabrics, knitted rubberised fabrics and cloth adhesive tape up to 20 cm wide, pay 4% UK duty, 6% for knitted and 8% for the parallel-yarn fabrics of chapter note 5(c), with no anti-dumping duty. They are bought on coating adhesion, waterproofness and tear strength. Cambridge China Bridge sources them.
Rubber-coated and laminated fabrics, knitted rubberised fabrics and cloth adhesive tape from China pay 4% to 8% UK duty. Coating adhesion, peel and an example.
4% to 8% duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 26 September 2026, rubberised textile fabrics of heading 5906 carried 4% on goods from China for adhesive tape up to 20 cm wide and for other woven rubberised fabrics, 6% for knitted or crocheted fabrics and 8% for the fabrics of parallel yarns agglomerated with rubber described in note 5(c) to chapter 59. There was no anti-dumping measure.
A listed woven laminated rubberised fabric under 5906 99 90 20 has a 0% suspension under authorised use, and a listed polyamide-6.6 rubberised fabric under 5906 99 90 90 has a 0% suspension, both to the end of 2028. PVC and polyurethane coated fabrics are heading 5903, covered in our PVC and PU coated fabrics guide; cellular rubber sheet with textile only for reinforcement, such as some neoprene, is heading 4008. Confirm the commodity code.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rubberised adhesive tape, up to 20 cm wide | 5906 10 00 00 | 4% | None |
| Knitted or crocheted rubberised fabrics | 5906 91 00 00 | 6% | None |
| Fabrics of note 5(c) to chapter 59 | 5906 99 10 00 | 8% | None |
| Other rubberised textile fabrics | 5906 99 90 90 | 4% | None |
What they are used for
Rubberised fabrics go into inflatables, diaphragms, protective clothing, tarpaulins and industrial covers, and cloth tapes into staging, sports and repairs. Specify the base fabric, the rubber compound, coating weight, width, colour and the performance the end product needs, and see our wetsuits and coated rainwear guide for finished garments.
Where the fabric touches skin, entry 50 of [Annex XVII of UK REACH](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/2006/1907/annex/XVII) limits polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in rubber in direct and prolonged skin contact, so ask for test results.
Worked duty example
An invented example rather than a quote: 6,000 m of rubber-coated woven polyester fabric in rolls, commodity code 5906 99 90 90, bought for £12,000 free on board, with £1,500 of freight and insurance, so £13,500 is the value customs works from. Duty at the 4% rate for rubberised fabric is £540. VAT at 20% applies to £14,040, so £2,808. A VAT-registered buyer usually recovers the VAT, so the border adds £540 to the landed cost. See calculating UK import duty and VAT for the method.
Inspection checklist
Coating: measure coating adhesion by ISO 2411 and coating mass per unit area against the specification on samples from several rolls, and check the surface for bare spots, pinholes and blisters on an inspection frame.
Waterproofness and strength: test resistance to water penetration by ISO 1420 and tear strength by ISO 4674-1 on samples, and repeat after the flexing or ageing the end use requires.
Cloth tape: test peel adhesion to steel by BS EN 1939, check unwind, width and roll length against the label, and check that the tape tears cleanly by hand where that is specified.
What goes wrong
Rubberised fabrics fail on adhesion, ageing and smell. The coating peels from the base fabric after flexing, pinholes let water through, the rubber hardens and cracks in sunlight or cold, and a strong rubber odour or bloom appears on the surface. Cloth tape leaves residue, loses tack in cold stores, or telescopes on the roll.
Test adhesion and waterproofness on samples, age-test for the end use, and check tape peel and unwind before loading. See our quality inspection guide.
Cambridge China Bridge sources rubberised fabrics and cloth tapes for makers of inflatables, covers and protective products and for tape distributors. If your current supplier's coating is peeling, see adding a second supplier.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on rubberised fabric from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 26 September 2026, woven rubberised fabrics carried 4%, knitted 6% and note 5(c) fabrics 8% from China.
Is gaffer or cloth tape in this heading?
Rubberised cloth adhesive tape up to 20 cm wide is 5906 10 00 00 at 4%; plastic-film tapes are heading 3919.
Is PVC-coated fabric in the same code?
No. PVC and polyurethane coated fabrics are heading 5903.
How do I check the coating will not peel?
Test coating adhesion by ISO 2411 on samples, including after flexing or ageing.