Sourcing warp-knit marquisette fabric from China

Marquisette duty and classification

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 6005 covers warp-knitted fabrics outside headings 6001 to 6004. The cotton and synthetic marquisette lines shown carry 8% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty recorded. These selected lines have no attached import controls. Confirm that the sample is warp-knitted: the name marquisette alone does not establish its construction.

Code 6005 36 00 00 has a 0.00 % suspension only for the specified weft-inserted warp-knitted synthetic polyester yarn, with width from 1.5m to 1.65m and length from 8.000m to 16.000m. The suspension excludes mixtures, preparations and products made up of different components containing these products. Do not assume ordinary polyester marquisette qualifies; match the tariff wording to the actual goods before claiming relief.

Elsewhere in this heading, codes 6005 90 10 00 and 6005 90 90 00 attach CITES and cat and dog fur controls. For protected-species material from China, confirm the applicable CITES permits with your customs broker; cat and dog fur products are banned from import and export. Confirm the commodity code using construction, composition, width and finish. See the mosquito net fabric guide for the wider heading.

Specify the marquisette mesh

Specify warp-knitted construction, fibre composition, yarn type, mesh opening shape and size, mass per square metre and usable width after finishing. Agree transparency, drape, stretch in each direction and the intended curtain, lining or decorative use. Keep an approved sample showing the mesh under tension and relaxed, with a colour reference and agreed washing method.

For fabric sold by the metre to consumers, provide fibre composition and confirm the permitted fibre names with the relevant authority. Marquisette describes the fabric, not its fibre content. For dyed or printed fabric intended for prolonged skin contact, confirm the applicable UK REACH azo-dye restrictions with the relevant authority. Ask for test evidence matching the supplied colour and quality.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 8,000 metres of dyed polyester warp-knitted marquisette in rolls; illustrative order under 6005 37 00 00, invoiced at £12,000 free on board, with £1,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £13,200. Duty at 8% is £1,056. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £14,256, so it is £2,851.20. Import taxes total £3,907.20; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,056 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Mesh: compare openings with the approved sample across the width and along the roll; check distorted cells, broken yarns, holes and continuous needle lines.

Width and weight: measure usable width and mass per square metre on sampled rolls after relaxation; compare with the purchase specification.

Shade and finish: compare rolls and edge-to-centre shade against the approved colour reference; check stiffness, snagging and rubbing colour transfer.

Stability and packing: wash samples by the agreed method and check shrinkage and mesh distortion; inspect roll identification, moisture and crushed edges. Use the quality inspection guide to brief the inspector.

What goes wrong

A supplier may send woven marquisette against a brief for warp-knitted fabric, or match the appearance while changing yarn or mesh density. A tighter mesh reduces transparency; uneven finishing changes width and drape. Compare production fabric with the signed sample before accepting the shipment.

Open mesh can snag during handling, and distorted openings become visible when curtains hang or panels are stretched. Separate dye lots, retain roll references and photograph faults before cutting. Agree how defective lengths and shade variation will be recorded and resolved.

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.