Sourcing silkworm cocoons from China
Silkworm cocoons suitable for reeling from China pay 0% UK duty under the single code 5001 00 00 00, with no anti-dumping duty. They are bought by silk reelers, textile artists and craft suppliers, and buyers check that cocoons are properly dried or stifled, shell ratio and reelability, freedom from mould and pests, and packing that keeps them dry.
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0% duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 28 September 2026, heading 5001 covers silkworm cocoons suitable for reeling. It is a single code carrying 0% on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure.
Raw silk is heading 5002 and silk waste, including cocoons unsuitable for reeling, heading 5003; confirm the commodity code. Cocoons are animal products, so confirm with your broker whether any animal health documents apply to the consignment before shipping.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silkworm cocoons suitable for reeling | 5001 00 00 00 | 0% | None |
Specifying cocoons
Specify variety, colour, size, shell ratio, reelability, percentage of defective or double cocoons, moisture after drying, and packing in breathable sacks or cartons. For craft sales, specify whether pupae have been removed and how the cocoons were dried.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 500 kg of dried mulberry silkworm cocoons under 5001 00 00 00, invoiced at £6,000 free on board, with £400 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £6,400. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £6,400, so it is £1,280. 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
Quality: check defective, stained and double cocoons.
Condition: check for mould, pests and moisture.
Packing: check breathable, dry packing. 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
Cocoon orders fail on drying and defects. Poorly dried cocoons go mouldy in transit, defective cocoons are mixed in, and packing traps moisture.
Cambridge China Bridge sources materials for UK manufacturers with documents agreed before shipment. See factory verification.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on silkworm cocoons from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 28 September 2026, cocoons under 5001 00 00 00 carried 0% from China.
Are cocoons unsuitable for reeling in heading 5001?
No. They are silk waste, heading 5003.
Do cocoons need animal health documents?
They are animal products; confirm with your broker what the consignment needs before shipping.
What is shell ratio?
The weight of the silk shell as a share of the whole cocoon, which drives silk yield.