Sourcing spun melamine yarn from China
Spun melamine yarn from China under heading 5509 carries a flat 4% UK duty across the relevant lines, with no listed anti-dumping duty. The code depends on fibre composition and yarn construction; fibre-content labelling rules also apply. Cambridge China Bridge sources spun melamine yarn.
A flat 4% duty on relevant yarn lines
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 4 October 2026, heading 5509 covers synthetic staple-fibre yarn other than sewing thread, not put up for retail sale. For spun melamine yarn, the table shows candidate lines for other synthetic staple yarn and its blends. These are broader tariff descriptions, rather than dedicated melamine codes.
The selected lines carry 4% duty for goods from China, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached control. If a melamine blend instead falls under the wool or fine-animal-hair line 5509 91 00 00, the tariff attaches CITES import and export controls. Have your customs broker confirm the applicable requirement for the actual animal fibre before ordering.
Give your broker the full fibre composition by weight, whether the yarn is single, folded or cabled, and its packaging. Confirm the commodity code before shipment. The spun aramid yarn guide provides a related guide within the wider heading.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other synthetic staple fibres, at least 85% by weight, single yarn | 5509 41 00 00 | 4% | None |
| Other synthetic staple fibres, at least 85% by weight, folded or cabled yarn | 5509 42 00 00 | 4% | None |
| Other staple yarn mixed mainly or solely with cotton | 5509 92 00 00 | 4% | None |
| Other staple yarn, other blends | 5509 99 00 00 | 4% | None |
Specify the melamine blend and intended fabric
Specify melamine fibre content and every companion fibre, yarn count, twist direction and level, ply construction, breaking strength, elongation, evenness and hairiness. Agree cone dimensions, net yarn weight, winding tension, finish and batch identification. Ask the mill to identify the fibre producer and keep the approved sample linked to the production batch.
For heat or flame performance, agree the intended fabric construction and a test plan for that fabric. Request reports identifying the tested blend and sample, rather than accepting a fibre brochure as evidence for the finished fabric. Arrange testing and certification around the intended use.
Fibre-content labelling rules apply to textiles sold in Great Britain. Check composition information against the blend test. UK REACH restrictions can limit, ban or set conditions on substances placed on the market or used; ask for dye and finish details so applicable restrictions can be checked.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative small-business trial consignment of single spun melamine yarn on cones under 5509 41 00 00, invoiced at £16,000 free on board, with £1,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £17,200. Duty at 4% is £688. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £17,888, so it is £3,577.60. Import taxes total £4,265.60; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £688 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Composition: test sampled cones for melamine and companion-fibre content against the agreed blend and composition information.
Yarn: check count, twist, breaking strength, elongation, evenness and hairiness against the approved specification.
Cones: check net weight, winding, damaged edges, contamination, moisture and batch identification across cartons.
Fabric trial: knit or weave the delivered yarn, check processing breaks and fabric consistency, and test agreed heat or flame performance on the resulting fabric.
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What goes wrong
An altered blend can pass a visual check while giving different processing or fabric performance. Uneven yarn, excessive hairiness and poor winding can cause breaks; mixed batches can make results difficult to trace. A report for another blend or fabric construction does not establish the performance of your sample.
Keep a retained sample from the approved batch and compare production cones before release. Repeat the fabric trial when the blend, finish or yarn construction changes. Use the quality inspection guide to define what the inspector samples and records.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on spun melamine yarn from China?
The relevant heading 5509 lines carried 4% duty on goods from China on 4 October 2026, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty or suspension.
Which commodity code covers spun melamine yarn?
The table gives candidate lines. Confirm the code from the complete blend, single or folded construction and packaging; a supplier's description alone is insufficient.
Does spun melamine yarn need fibre-content information?
Yes. Textile fibre-content labelling rules apply in Great Britain. Check the declared composition against a blend test and keep the information linked to the batch.
Does a melamine fibre report prove my fabric's flame performance?
Use a report for the actual blend and intended fabric construction. Knit or weave a trial from production yarn and test the agreed performance before bulk use.