Sourcing unidirectional glass fabric from China

Duty depends on how the fibres are held together

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, the listed woven-fabric candidates under heading 7019 carry 6% duty from China. Published background gives stitched and needled fabrics 4%. The supplied extract contains only Türkiye-consigned entries for the relevant stitched-fabric branch, so it does not establish the direct-China stitched code. The table presents construction-dependent candidates, not interchangeable codes for every unidirectional fabric.

The listed candidates show no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. For 7019 69 90 84, the tariff attaches a supplementary-unit entry and import and export waste controls. Confirm the supplementary unit and any China-to-UK waste requirement with your customs broker. For waste entering England under notification controls, the exporter must apply to the dispatch country's competent authority for consent.

Give your broker a sample, a construction drawing and details of stitching, weave, coating and resin impregnation to confirm the commodity code. Do not select a Türkiye-consigned code for direct shipment from China. For the wider fabric family, see fibreglass woven roving.

Specify fibre direction, stitching and resin compatibility

Specify the main fibre direction relative to the roll, glass type, roving linear density, mass per unit area, width and roll length. Describe transverse support yarns or stitching separately, including their material and contribution to the fabric weight. State whether you want dry fabric or resin-impregnated material.

Name the resin system and ask the factory to identify the sizing, binder and any coating. Approve a sample through your own wet-out and laminate process before releasing the bulk order. UK REACH generally applies to substances on their own, in mixtures or in articles. Request composition information for the sizing and coatings, plus handling advice.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative trial shipment of dry woven unidirectional fabric rolls; FOB and freight values are illustrative under 7019 61 00 84, invoiced at £9,000 free on board, with £2,400 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £11,400. Duty at 6% is £684. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £12,084, so it is £2,416.80. Import taxes total £3,100.80; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £684 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Alignment: unroll sampled fabric and check the main rovings follow the agreed direction without waviness, gaps, overlaps or broken bundles.

Weight and dimensions: weigh measured cut samples and compare width, roll length and support-yarn content with the purchase specification.

Process sample: compare sizing identification and wet-out behaviour with the approved sample using your intended resin and process.

Arrival and traceability: check for damp wrapping, crushed cores, distorted roll edges and loose stitching; match roll labels to batch records. Use the inspection guide to agree the checks.

What goes wrong

A fabric can meet its total weight while containing too much transverse support material and too little reinforcement in the main direction. Wavy rovings, uneven stitching and handling damage can also make lay-up inconsistent. Agree main-direction reinforcement content separately from total fabric weight.

Sizing that does not suit the resin can wet out poorly. A supplier may also replace stitched construction with woven fabric, changing both processing behaviour and the classification question. Keep an approved construction sample and compare production and arrival samples against it.

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.