Sourcing swim jammers from China

UK duty on swim jammers

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 6112 covers knitted or crocheted tracksuits, ski suits and swimwear. This guide covers close-fitting swim jammers with legs extending towards the knee. The table selects men's and boys' swimwear lines. See competitive swimming suits for the wider swimwear guide.

The selected lines carry 8% duty where rubber thread accounts for at least 5% by weight, and 12% on the other lines. Synthetic fibres and other textile materials have separate codes. The supplied records show no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspensions or attached import controls for these lines.

Confirm the commodity code using the garment construction, intended wearer, fibre composition and rubber-thread content. Ask for material evidence rather than treating a supplier's stretch-fabric description as proof of the reduced-duty classification.

Specify jammer fit, lining and pool performance

Specify polyester or polyamide blends, elastane content, knit structure, fabric weight and lining coverage. Give a graded measurement chart covering waist, hips, rise, inside leg and leg opening, with agreed tolerances. Approve the waistband, internal drawcord, gusset and seam construction on a worn sample, including movement into a crouch.

Agree checks for wet opacity, colour transfer, stretch recovery and chlorine exposure, with the test method and acceptance criteria written into the order. In Great Britain, the label must show fibre content, including any animal parts. Approve composition wording against the actual materials and agree care instructions. UK businesses importing or selling swim jammers are responsible for their safety.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 500 men's synthetic-fibre swim jammers; FOB value and freight are illustrative, not a quotation. under 6112 31 90 00, invoiced at £7,000 free on board, with £700 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £7,700. Duty at 12% is £924. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £8,624, so it is £1,724.80. Import taxes total £2,648.80; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £924 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Fit: measure production garments against the size chart; check waist security, crotch comfort and leg openings on worn samples.

Fabric and lining: compare material evidence and handle with the approved sample; check wet opacity and lining coverage while stretched.

Seams and waistband: stretch crotch and panel seams; check broken stitches, puckering, drawcord attachment and waistband recovery.

Pool checks and arrival: repeat the agreed chlorine and colour-transfer checks; inspect for damp cartons, shade differences and incorrect labels. Record results using the inspection guide.

What goes wrong

An approval sample can fit well while bulk garments have a shorter rise or tighter leg opening. Fabric substitutions can change recovery and wet opacity. Crotch seams may split under stretch, linings may bunch, and repeated pool exposure may leave the fabric faded or slack.

Retain approved fabric and garment samples, require approval for substitutions and check production garments before shipment and again on arrival. Do not accept a dry appearance check as evidence of wet opacity or pool durability.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For own-brand ranges, see sourcing for brands.