Sourcing women's knitted leggings from China
Women's knitted leggings from China carry 12% UK duty across the listed fibre categories, with no recorded trade remedies or suspensions. Fibre composition labelling is required; specify opacity under stretch, waistband recovery and graded fit before production. Cambridge China Bridge sources women's knitted leggings.
Duty on women's knitted leggings
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 8 October 2026, heading 6104 covers women's or girls' knitted or crocheted garments, including trousers. The selected trouser lines relevant to leggings all carry 12% duty for goods from China. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty, or suspension, is recorded for these lines.
The tariff attaches cat and dog fur and seal-product import controls, plus CITES controls on some lines. Cat and dog fur products cannot be imported or exported. Seal products can only be imported and sold in limited cases under strict conditions. If animal-derived materials are proposed, ask your customs broker to confirm the applicable controls before shipment.
For CITES-listed materials from China, apply for the relevant permit and contact the Chinese management authority for corresponding documentation. Confirm the commodity code from the garment and fibre specification rather than the word leggings alone. See the wider women's dresses and knitwear guide. For pencil-skirt styles, see our women's knitted pencil skirts guide. For blazer styles, see our women's knitted blazers sourcing guide. For outerwear sourcing, see our women's knitted anoraks guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women's knitted leggings of cotton | 6104 62 00 00 | 12% | None |
| Women's knitted leggings of synthetic fibres | 6104 63 00 00 | 12% | None |
| Women's knitted leggings of wool or fine animal hair | 6104 61 00 00 | 12% | None |
| Women's knitted leggings classified as trousers of other textile materials | 6104 69 00 10 | 12% | None |
Specify opacity, stretch and waistband fit
Specify the fibre blend, knit construction, fabric weight, finish and colour. Agree opacity checks with the fabric stretched across the seat and knees, using the approved sample as the comparison. Set stretch recovery and wash-change acceptance criteria with the factory. For tennis skirt specifications, see our women's knitted tennis skirts sourcing guide. For skort sourcing, see women's knitted skorts.
Provide a graded measurement chart covering waist, hip, rise, inseam and ankle opening, with measurement methods and tolerances. Specify waistband width and construction, gusset shape, seam type and pocket position. Approve a size set and movement sample to check waistband rolling, crotch comfort and seam strain. For jogger styles, see sourcing women's knitted joggers. For wide-leg trouser styles, see our women's knitted palazzo trousers sourcing guide.
Fibre composition labelling is required. Agree the label wording, care instructions and size marks before production, and compare the composition label with fabric test results.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 2,000 pairs of women's knitted polyester leggings under 6104 63 00 00, invoiced at £18,000 free on board, with £1,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £19,200. Duty at 12% is £2,304. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £21,504, so it is £4,300.80. Import taxes total £6,604.80; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £2,304 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Fit: measure samples from each size against the approved chart; check rise, inseam, waistband tension and pocket alignment.
Fabric: compare weight and handle with the approved sample; check opacity under stretch, recovery after movement and pilling.
Seams and washing: stretch crotch and seat seams; wash production pieces to check shrinkage, twisting, colour transfer and print cracking.
Labels and packing: check fibre wording, size marks and agreed care instructions; reconcile size and colour assortments with the packing list. Use the quality inspection guide.
Working out your own order? Send us the product on WhatsApp and we reply the same working day: WhatsApp us
What goes wrong
A fabric can look opaque when flat but become transparent when stretched. Poor recovery leaves bagging at the knees, while an unsuitable waistband rolls or slips. Crotch seams can pop during movement even when the garment passes a visual check.
Bulk fabric substitutions can change fit, opacity and washing performance. Keep an approved production sample for each colour, record acceptance criteria in the order and compare arrival samples with the inspection record. Separate affected stock while the factory investigates.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on women's knitted leggings from China?
The selected leggings-relevant trouser lines under heading 6104 carry 12% duty from China, with no recorded anti-dumping or countervailing duty or suspension.
Do women's leggings need a fibre composition label?
Yes. Textile labelling rules require fibre content to be shown. Agree the wording before production and check it against the actual fabric composition.
How do I check whether leggings are see-through?
Compare production samples with the approved sample while stretched across the seat and knees. Agree the lighting, movement and acceptance criteria before placing the order.
How can I reduce sizing problems with a Chinese factory?
Supply a graded measurement chart with tolerances, approve a size set and check movement as well as standing fit. Measure production samples and repeat the checks after washing.