Sourcing tyre cord fabric from China

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.

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.

Related guides: Conveyor belts and V-belts from China.