Sourcing synthetic basketball shoes from China

Duty and classification for basketball shoes

Heading 6402 covers footwear with rubber or plastic uppers and outer soles. Synthetic textile uppers need separate classification: the word synthetic alone does not establish this heading. The table includes the sports-footwear line and conditional alternatives for basketball-style casual shoes. HMRC distinguishes basketball sports footwear from ordinary trainers. Confirm the design before treating a casual shoe as sports footwear; ankle coverage, insole length and intended wearer also affect the other-footwear lines.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, all listed lines carried 16% duty from China, with no recorded anti-dumping or countervailing duty or suspension. The sports line has an import control for fluorinated greenhouse gases: confirm the requirement for the actual shoe with your customs broker, especially for gas-filled cushioning. The ankle-covering alternative has cat and dog fur import and export controls. Imports and exports of that fur and products made from it are banned; exclude it from linings and trim.

Give your broker the material breakdown, sample photographs, ankle coverage and insole measurements to confirm the commodity code. The casual-shoe alternatives are not interchangeable with the sports line. For the wider heading, see the synthetic-upper tennis-shoe guide.

Specify the upper, court grip and lateral support

Name the upper polymer, any textile backing, lining, sock material and outer-sole compound. Specify the last, UK size markings, size allocation, collar height, toe room and heel hold. Approve fitting samples across the intended size run rather than relying on the printed size.

State whether the shoe is for indoor courts, outdoor courts or casual wear. Agree traction checks on the intended surface, lateral support during direction changes, cushioning recovery, sole flex and sole bonding. Record the approved construction and comparison sample before production.

Confirm with Trading Standards how footwear labels should identify the materials of the upper, lining and sock, and outer sole, including the use of words or pictograms and how to describe mixed materials. Consumer products sold in Great Britain must be safe in normal or reasonably foreseeable use. Agree the supporting checks through testing and certification.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 24 pairs of synthetic-upper basketball shoes，illustrative order under 6402 19 00 00, invoiced at £1,480 free on board, with £80 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £1,560. Duty at 16% is £249.60. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £1,809.60, so it is £361.92. Import taxes total £611.52; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £249.60 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Fit and pairing: compare internal dimensions and heel hold with approved samples; check left and right shoes, size marks and carton size allocation.

Sole and support: inspect bonding around the toe and heel, flex production pairs, check cushioning recovery and compare lateral support with the approved construction.

Grip and finish: compare tread and sole compound with the sample; inspect stitching, eyelets, colour matching, glue marks and upper cracking after flexing.

Labels and arrival: match composition labels to the material specification; check boxes and shoes for moisture, mould, crushing and deformation. Record findings using the quality inspection guide.

What goes wrong

A sample can fit well while production shoes use a different last or cushioning foam. Check production pairs against the approved sample for toe room, heel movement and foam recovery. Sole separation, upper cracking and weak eyelet attachment should trigger investigation before accepting the batch.

A basketball appearance can hide a casual construction with unsuitable grip or lateral support. Avoid approving performance claims from photographs alone. Compare physical samples on the intended court surface and check arrived stock for damp packaging, flattened collars and mismatched pairs.

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.