Sourcing Steel Tapestry Needles from China

2% duty on steel tapestry needles

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, steel tapestry needles fall within heading 7319, which covers iron or steel hand needles and related articles, as well as pins. The relevant line is 7319 90 10 00, sewing, darning or embroidery needles. The table shows product variants sharing this commodity code.

The supplied tariff record gives 2% duty for goods from China, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty, steel measure, suspension or attached import control on this line. Import VAT is normally 20%; see UK import duty and VAT.

Confirm the commodity code using the material, hand use and product description before shipment. Supply photographs showing the eye and point. See hand embroidery needles for the wider needle family.

Specify the rounded point and elongated eye

Specify steel grade, needle size designation, length, shaft diameter, eye opening, rounded point profile and plating. Approve samples using the buyer's actual yarn and canvas or cross-stitch fabric. A tapestry needle should pass through existing fabric openings without splitting yarn. Agree each pack's size assortment, count and method of retaining the needles.

For consumer sales in Great Britain, the General Product Safety Regulations 2005 require safe products. Confirm with the relevant authority what producer name and address and product reference or batch identification should appear on the product or packaging. Specify secure packaging and relevant handling warnings; a rounded point still needs a safety assessment.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 4,000 retail packs of steel tapestry needles; illustrative order, not a quote under 7319 90 10 00, invoiced at £6,000 free on board, with £1,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £7,200. Duty at 2% is £144. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £7,344, so it is £1,468.80. Import taxes total £1,612.80; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £144 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Eye finish: inspect under magnification for burrs and rough edges, then repeatedly thread and draw through the intended yarn to check for snagging or fraying.

Point and dimensions: compare the rounded tip, shaft, length and eye opening with approved samples; try the needle in the intended fabric and check for unintended sharp points.

Strength and finish: check sample needles for bending or snapping during representative use, and inspect plating for peeling, exposed steel, rust or marks transferred to fabric.

Packs and traceability: count needles, verify size assortments, test retention when packs are handled, and check the agreed product identification and producer details. Use the quality inspection guide to plan checks.

What goes wrong

A factory substitutes a sharp embroidery needle, or supplies a rounded tip with a hooked edge. Rough eyes damage wool and embroidery thread; narrow eyes make the intended yarn difficult to thread. Mixed sizes can look alike in the pack but perform differently on canvas.

Thin or damaged plating leaves rust marks on stored fabric. Brittle needles break at the eye, soft shafts bend, and loose needles escape from retail cards. Keep approved samples and agree acceptance checks for each size and finish before production.

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.