Sourcing Textile Screen-Printing Inks from China

Textile printing ink: normally 6% duty

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 3215 covers printing, writing, drawing and other inks. For textile screen-printing ink, black printing ink falls under 3215 11 00 00 and other colours normally fall under 3215 19 00 90. The table separates common formulations sharing these codes. See the wider inks and cartridges guide.

Both printing-ink lines carry 6% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty recorded. A 0.00 % suspension applies only to the specified liquid dispersion of vinyl acrylate copolymer and colour pigments in isoparaffins, containing no more than 13% of the copolymer and pigments by weight. Do not assume a water-based or plastisol formulation qualifies.

The tariff attaches import and export waste controls. Waste shipment controls apply only when the material is waste. For waste ink from China, confirm the applicable notification and consent requirements with your customs broker before shipment. Confirm the formulation and commodity code before ordering.

Specify the ink, fabric and curing process

Specify water-based or plastisol ink, fabric composition, garment colour, opacity, stretch, finish and the approved printed sample. Agree screen mesh, viscosity, permitted additives, storage conditions and the factory's curing instructions. Trial the ink using your own press and dryer, particularly on polyester where dye can migrate into the print.

Ask for the formulation information needed to assess UK REACH responsibilities and an English safety data sheet for each ink. Registration is per substance and legal entity, rather than the ink's trade name; confirm how annual import volumes affect your obligations with HSE. Before sale in Great Britain, importers must ensure correct chemical labelling and packaging and should confirm classification responsibilities with HSE.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 2 tonnes of coloured textile screen-printing ink; illustrative FOB and freight values under 3215 19 00 90, invoiced at £12,000 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £12,900. Duty at 6% is £774. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £13,674, so it is £2,734.80. Import taxes total £3,508.80; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £774 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Batch identity: match container labels, batch references and certificates of analysis to the approved formulation; check seals, leaks and declared net contents on arrival.

Print performance: compare shade, opacity, edge definition and surface feel against the approved sample on the actual fabric; check screen blocking and coverage.

Cure and durability: record the actual curing conditions, then assess washing, rubbing and stretching against the agreed acceptance criteria.

Documents and storage: match the safety data sheet and curing instructions to the delivered ink; inspect for skinning, lumps, separation or contamination before production.

What goes wrong

A colour match on a swatch can hide poor opacity on dark garments. Inadequate curing can leave a print that cracks or washes away, while polyester dyes can discolour a print after curing. Water-based ink can dry in the screen; an unsuitable plastisol formulation can give a stiff print.

Keep an approved printed fabric sample and retained ink from each accepted batch. Compare production batches under the same printing and curing conditions. Agree how formulation changes are approved, and use testing and certification support when chemical evidence needs specialist review.

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.