Sourcing woollen and cashmere cloth from China
Woven fabrics of carded wool or carded fine animal hair from China, woollen tweeds, flannels, melton and cashmere or camel hair coating, pay 8% UK duty on most lines of heading 5111, and 6% for blends with more than 10% silk. Every line carries a CITES check. Buyers check fibre content, weight, handle, pilling and colour.
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Duty and the CITES check
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 17 November 2026, heading 5111 covers woven fabrics of carded wool or of carded fine animal hair, split by wool content, the main blending fibre and weight. The lines shown carried 8% on goods from China, except fabric with more than 10% of silk, which carried 6%, with no anti-dumping measure. Every line carries a CITES import control, answered by declaring that no protected species are used; hair from CITES-listed species needs the appropriate CITES import and export documents, depending on its listing.
Worsted fabrics of combed wool are covered in our worsted wool fabrics guide; confirm the commodity code from a fibre test.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| 85%+ wool or fine hair, up to 300 g/m2 | 5111 11 00 00 | 8% | None |
| 85%+ wool or fine hair, other | 5111 19 00 00 | 8% | None |
| Mixed mainly with man-made filaments | 5111 20 00 00 | 8% | None |
| Mixed mainly with man-made staple, up to 300 g/m2 | 5111 30 10 00 | 8% | None |
| Mixed mainly with man-made staple, over 300 g/m2 | 5111 30 80 00 | 8% | None |
| Other, more than 10% silk | 5111 90 10 00 | 6% | None |
| Other, up to 300 g/m2 | 5111 90 91 00 | 8% | None |
| Other, over 300 g/m2 | 5111 90 98 00 | 8% | None |
Specifying woollen cloth
Specify fibre content (wool, cashmere, camel, blends), micron, weight, weave, finish (milled, brushed, melton), width, colour and fastness, pilling resistance, and shrinkage. Garments and textiles sold to consumers need fibre composition labels under the Textile Products (Labelling and Fibre Composition) Regulations 2012, and terms such as cashmere must match the fibre supplied.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 2,000 metres of wool-cashmere coating under 5111 19 00 00, invoiced at £36,000 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £36,900. Duty at 8% is £2,952. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £39,852, so it is £7,970.40. Import taxes total £10,922.40; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £2,952 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Fibre: test fibre content, especially claimed cashmere percentages.
Performance: test pilling and shrinkage after washing or dry cleaning.
Rolls: check shade and faults across rolls. See our quality inspection guide.
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What goes wrong
Woollen cloth orders fail on fibre content, pilling and shade. Cashmere content is lower than claimed, cloth pills quickly, and shade varies between pieces.
Cambridge China Bridge sources fabrics and yarns for UK brands from small lots, with fibre testing agreed first; see small orders.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on cashmere cloth from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 17 November 2026, carded wool and fine hair fabrics under heading 5111 carried 8%, or 6% with more than 10% silk.
Why is there a CITES check on wool fabric?
Every line carries a CITES control; declare that no protected species are used, or obtain the appropriate CITES import and export documents for the species and its listing.
What is the difference between woollen and worsted cloth?
Woollen cloth uses carded yarn and is softer and fuller; worsted uses combed yarn and is smoother, heading 5112.
How do I check cashmere content?
Have samples tested by a textile laboratory before paying for bulk.