Sourcing sisal needle-punched felt from China

Flat 6% duty on sisal felt

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 5602 covers felt, whether or not impregnated, coated, covered or laminated. The supplied lines all carry 6% duty for goods from China, with no recorded anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspensions. Uncoated sisal needle-punched felt is a candidate for 5602 10 19 00; treated needlefelt is a candidate for 5602 10 90 00.

The uncoated needlefelt line carries a cat and dog fur import control. Imports of that fur and products made from it are banned. Obtain a fibre declaration and ask your customs broker to confirm the entry requirements. The treated needlefelt line has no attached controls in the supplied tariff record. The other felt rows are comparison lines for goods made differently, rather than alternatives chosen by their trade name.

Confirm the commodity code using the fibre composition, manufacturing process and treatment details. For another material within the wider heading, see our polypropylene needle-punched felt guide.

Specify the sisal blend and needlefelt structure

State the sisal proportion and identify every other fibre, binder, backing and coating. Agree mass per unit area, thickness measured under an agreed pressure, width, roll length and tolerances. Describe the intended use so the factory can supply samples for cutting, bonding or compression trials.

Approve a sample for surface roughness, loose fibres, colour variation and odour. For laminated material, specify the backing and test adhesion after flexing. Textile labels must show fibre content, including fur and other animal parts. Match the label to the agreed composition; arrange testing and certification where composition or performance needs independent checking.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 8 tonnes of uncoated sisal needle-punched felt in rolls; illustrative order under 5602 10 19 00, invoiced at £14,000 free on board, with £1,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £15,500. Duty at 6% is £930. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £16,430, so it is £3,286. Import taxes total £4,216; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £930 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Composition: compare batch documents and labels with the agreed sisal blend; investigate unexplained changes in fibre appearance or feel.

Weight and thickness: weigh cut samples from across the width and measure thickness under the agreed pressure; compare with the approved sample and tolerances.

Surface and backing: check thin patches, loose fibres and shedding during handling; flex laminated samples and inspect for separation.

Roll condition: check width, winding, crushed cores, damp patches, mould and odour on arrival; photograph damage before unwinding.

What goes wrong

A sample can feel dense while production rolls contain thin patches or shed fibres when cut. A changed blend can alter stiffness and bonding behaviour. Compare production samples with the retained sample and trial them in your own process before accepting the batch.

Damp packing, uneven winding and weak lamination can leave rolls difficult to process. Agree dry packing and handling instructions, inspect wrapping before dispatch, and record arrival condition. Keep any claims about biodegradability tied to the complete blend, binder and backing rather than the sisal name alone.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For repeat volumes, see container programmes.