Sourcing tyre cord fabric from China
Tyre cord fabric of high-tenacity nylon, polyester or viscose yarn from China, dipped or not, pays 0% UK duty with no anti-dumping duty. It is bought for tyres, belts and hoses on strength, shrinkage and rubber adhesion, so lot test results matter more than price. Cambridge China Bridge sources it.
Nylon, polyester and aramid tyre cord fabric, dipped or greige, for tyres, belts and hoses from China pays 0% UK duty. Adhesion, strength tests and an example.
0% duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 27 September 2026, tyre cord fabric of high-tenacity yarn of nylon or other polyamides, polyesters or viscose rayon, heading 5902, carried 0% on goods from China on all six lines, whether impregnated with rubber or not, with no anti-dumping measure.
Finished tyres are covered in our car, van and lorry tyres guide. Confirm the commodity code from the yarn and whether the fabric is impregnated with rubber.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Of nylon or other polyamides, impregnated with rubber | 5902 10 10 00 | 0% | None |
| Of nylon or other polyamides, other | 5902 10 90 00 | 0% | None |
| Of polyesters, impregnated with rubber | 5902 20 10 00 | 0% | None |
| Of polyesters, other | 5902 20 90 00 | 0% | None |
| Other (such as viscose rayon), impregnated with rubber | 5902 90 10 00 | 0% | None |
| Other, other | 5902 90 90 00 | 0% | None |
Chemicals and handling
Dipped cord is treated with adhesive systems, traditionally resorcinol-formaldehyde-latex, so ask for safety data sheets and a statement on substances of very high concern under UK REACH for the finished fabric. Dipped fabric ages and loses adhesion with heat, humidity and light, so storage conditions and shelf life belong in the contract.
Specifying cord fabric
Specify fibre and yarn count (such as 1400 dtex/2 or 1100 dtex/2), twist, ends per unit width, weft, fabric width and roll length, dipped or greige, breaking strength and elongation at a stated load, heat shrinkage, adhesion to your rubber compound, and packing in sealed film with desiccant.
Worked duty example
Suppose, purely for illustration, you import 40 tonnes of dipped polyester tyre cord fabric under 5902 20 10 00. At £118,000 free on board and £6,000 to ship and insure, the customs value is £124,000. With 0% duty on tyre cord fabric, the only charge is import VAT: 20% of £124,000, or £24,800. VAT-registered businesses usually recover that in their next return. The method is set out in how UK import duty and VAT work.
Inspection checklist
Lot tests: check each lot's certificate for breaking strength, elongation, heat shrinkage and dip pick-up against the specification, and have your own laboratory test adhesion with your compound for the first lots.
Fabric: check ends per unit width, width, weft spacing and freedom from loose ends, knots and contamination on sampled rolls.
Packing and storage: check rolls are sealed against moisture and light, carry lot and production dates, and are stored and shipped within the agreed shelf life.
What goes wrong
Tyre cord fails on adhesion, consistency and ageing. Dip pick-up varies so adhesion to the compound is poor, strength or shrinkage drifts between lots, fabric picks up moisture or ages in a hot container, and rolls arrive with loose ends or contamination.
Test adhesion with your own compound, check lot certificates, and control packing and transit. See our quality inspection guide.
Cambridge China Bridge sources tyre cord and industrial fabrics for UK tyre retreaders, belt and hose makers, and can add a second supplier alongside a current one. See second supplier.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on tyre cord fabric from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 27 September 2026, tyre cord fabric of nylon, polyester or viscose (heading 5902) carried 0% from China.
Does dipped cord have a different rate?
No. Rubber-impregnated and other tyre cord fabric were both 0%.
What properties decide quality?
Breaking strength, elongation, heat shrinkage and adhesion to your rubber compound.
Is there anti-dumping duty?
No line of heading 5902 had a UK anti-dumping measure on 27 September 2026.