Spun polyester and acrylic fabrics from China
Woven fabrics of 85% or more synthetic staple fibre from China, such as spun polyester, solution-dyed acrylic awning canvas and modacrylic, pay 8% UK duty with no anti-dumping duty. Blends below 85% move to headings 5513 to 5516, and filament fabrics to 5407. Upholstery and curtain uses bring fire tests. Cambridge China Bridge sources these fabrics.
Woven fabrics of 85% or more polyester, acrylic or nylon staple fibre from China pay 8% UK duty. Awning canvas, fire tests, fastness checks and an example.
A flat 8%
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 26 September 2026, woven fabrics containing 85% or more by weight of synthetic staple fibres, heading 5512, carried 8% on goods from China on all nine lines, whether of polyester, acrylic or modacrylic, or other synthetic staple such as nylon, and whether unbleached, dyed or printed. No line had an anti-dumping measure or a suspension.
Staple fibre is cut and spun, giving a cotton-like handle; fabric woven from continuous filament is in heading 5407, see our polyester and nylon woven fabrics guide. Blends such as polycotton with less than 85% synthetic staple are in headings 5513 to 5516, so confirm the commodity code from a fibre test, not the mill's description.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polyester staple fabric, unbleached or bleached | 5512 11 00 00 | 8% | None |
| Polyester staple fabric, dyed or yarn-dyed | 5512 19 90 00 | 8% | None |
| Acrylic or modacrylic fabric, unbleached or bleached | 5512 21 00 00 | 8% | None |
| Acrylic or modacrylic fabric, dyed (including awning canvas) | 5512 29 90 00 | 8% | None |
| Other synthetic staple fabric (such as nylon), dyed | 5512 99 90 00 | 8% | None |
Fire, labels and chemicals
Cover fabric for domestic upholstered furniture must pass the match test under the [Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1988/1324/contents), tested to BS EN 1021-2 or the equivalent test in BS 5852; modacrylic and inherently flame-retardant polyester are used to pass without a back-coating. Curtains for hotels and public buildings are often specified to BS 5867-2 by the buyer or fire risk assessment.
When fabric is sold to consumers, the [Textile Products (Labelling and Fibre Composition) Regulations 2012](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2012/1102/contents) require the fibre composition in the listed names, and entry 43 of [Annex XVII of UK REACH](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/2006/1907/annex/XVII) restricts azo dyes that release listed aromatic amines in textiles in skin contact. See UK REACH for importers.
Awning and outdoor fabric
Solution-dyed acrylic, where the pigment is added before the fibre is spun, is the usual fabric for awnings, parasols and outdoor cushions because it holds colour in sunlight. Specify colour fastness to light, water repellency, water resistance for the coated grades, breaking and tear strength, mass per square metre and width, and ask whether the finish is fluorine-free.
Worked duty example
For a made-up shipment of 6,000 m of solution-dyed acrylic awning fabric under 5512 29 90 00, add the £1,500 of freight and insurance to the £24,000 free-on-board price and customs sees £25,500. At 8%, duty on these acrylic awning fabrics is £2,040; import VAT of £5,508 is 20% of the value with duty added. Together that is £7,548, but a VAT-registered importer usually gets the VAT back. The duty and VAT guide walks through the calculation.
Inspection checklist
Composition and weight: have fibre content tested by the relevant part of ISO 1833 to confirm the 85% threshold and the label, and measure mass per unit area to ISO 3801 and width to ISO 22198 on several rolls.
Outdoor performance: for awning and outdoor fabric, test colour fastness to artificial light to ISO 105-B02, spray rating to ISO 4920 and, on coated grades, hydrostatic head to ISO 811 against the agreed grades.
Strength and wear: test breaking strength to ISO 13934-1 and tear strength to ISO 13937-2 in warp and weft, pilling to ISO 12945-2 for upholstery and uniform cloth, and check shade roll to roll against the approved standard in a light box.
What goes wrong
The common failures are composition, fading and fire evidence. Fabric sold as 100% acrylic tests below 85% and changes code and label, piece-dyed acrylic fades on an awning in one summer where solution-dyed was agreed, spun polyester pills, and a fire certificate covers a different weight or backing from the fabric supplied.
Test composition and fastness on the production lot, match fire reports to the exact fabric and treatment, and keep a signed sample. See our quality inspection guide.
Cambridge China Bridge sources spun polyester, acrylic and modacrylic fabrics for awning makers, upholsterers and uniform suppliers, and can add a second mill alongside your current one for the same quality. See second supplier.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on acrylic awning fabric from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 26 September 2026, woven fabric of 85% or more acrylic staple fibre (5512 2x) carried 8% from China.
Is polycotton in the same heading?
No. Blends with less than 85% synthetic staple fibre are in headings 5513 to 5516.
Does upholstery fabric need a fire test?
Yes, for domestic furniture: the match test under the 1988 fire safety regulations, to BS EN 1021-2 or BS 5852.
How do I check if acrylic is solution-dyed?
Ask for the yarn source and test colour fastness to light on the production lot to the agreed grade.