Sourcing woollen-spun yarn from China
Yarn of carded wool not put up for retail sale from China, the woollen-spun yarns used for tweeds, blankets and chunky knitwear, pays 2% UK duty where it contains 85% or more wool or 85% or more wool and fine hair, and 4% for other blends, under heading 5106, with no anti-dumping duty. Mills check micron, count, twist, blend ratio, colour and pilling.
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2% or 4% duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 17 November 2026, heading 5106 covers yarn of carded wool, not put up for retail sale. Yarn with 85% or more wool, and yarn with less than 85% wool but 85% or more wool and fine animal hair together, carried 2% on goods from China; other blends carried 4%, with no anti-dumping measure.
Worsted yarn of combed wool is covered in our worsted wool yarn guide, and retail-packed knitting yarn in our hand knitting yarn guide; confirm the commodity code from the blend.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| 85%+ wool, unbleached | 5106 10 10 00 | 2% | None |
| 85%+ wool, other | 5106 10 90 00 | 2% | None |
| Under 85% wool, 85%+ wool and fine hair | 5106 20 10 00 | 2% | None |
| Other blends, unbleached | 5106 20 91 00 | 4% | None |
| Other blends, other | 5106 20 99 00 | 4% | None |
Specifying woollen yarn
Specify wool type and micron, blend and ratio, metric count, ply and twist, dyeing, oil content, and cone or hank put-up. Yarn and products sold to consumers need fibre composition labels under the Textile Products (Labelling and Fibre Composition) Regulations 2012, so the fibre content must be tested and stated accurately.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 2 tonnes of dyed woollen-spun tweed yarn under 5106 10 90 00, invoiced at £24,000 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £24,900. Duty at 2% is £498. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £25,398, so it is £5,079.60. Import taxes total £5,577.60; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £498 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Testing: check count, twist and blend ratio on sample cones.
Colour: compare dye lots against the standard, including heather mixes.
Performance: knit or weave samples and check pilling and handle. See our quality inspection guide.
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What goes wrong
Woollen yarn orders fail on blend, micron and colour. Wool content is lower than stated, which can also change the duty rate, fibre is coarser than paid for, and heather mixes vary between lots.
Cambridge China Bridge sources yarns and materials for UK mills, makers and craft brands from small lots; see small orders.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on carded wool yarn from China?
2% for yarn with 85% or more wool, or 85% or more wool and fine hair; 4% for other blends.
What is the difference between woollen and worsted yarn?
Woollen-spun yarn is carded and fuller; worsted is combed and smoother, heading 5107.
Is retail-packed wool yarn in heading 5106?
No. Wool yarn put up for retail sale is heading 5109.
How do I check wool content?
Have a textile laboratory test the blend on sample cones.