Sourcing worsted wool yarn from China
Yarn of combed wool not put up for retail sale from China, the worsted yarns used by knitwear and weaving mills, pays 2% UK duty where it contains 85% or more wool and 4% for blends, under heading 5107, with no anti-dumping duty. Mills check fibre micron, count, twist, blend ratio, colour and pilling, and the wool content decides the label.
Buying from China for a business? How our UK China sourcing agent service works · China sourcing agent for small orders and first imports
2% or 4% duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 17 November 2026, heading 5107 covers yarn of combed wool, not put up for retail sale. Yarn with 85% or more wool carried 2% on goods from China, and blends with less than 85% wool carried 4%, with no anti-dumping measure.
Worsted fabrics are covered in our worsted wool fabrics guide, and hand-knitting yarn in retail put-ups 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 | 5107 10 10 00 | 2% | None |
| 85%+ wool, other | 5107 10 90 00 | 2% | None |
| Under 85% wool, 85%+ wool and fine hair, unbleached | 5107 20 10 00 | 4% | None |
| Under 85% wool, 85%+ wool and fine hair, other | 5107 20 30 00 | 4% | None |
| Mixed mainly with synthetic staple fibres, unbleached | 5107 20 51 00 | 4% | None |
| Mixed mainly with synthetic staple fibres, other | 5107 20 59 00 | 4% | None |
| Otherwise mixed, unbleached | 5107 20 91 00 | 4% | None |
| Otherwise mixed, other | 5107 20 99 00 | 4% | None |
Specifying worsted yarn
Specify wool micron, blend and ratio, metric count, ply and twist, dyeing (top-dyed or package-dyed), treatment such as machine-washable, and cone weight. Garments and home textiles sold to consumers need fibre composition labels under the Textile Products (Labelling and Fibre Composition) Regulations 2012, so the blend must be tested and stated accurately. Terms such as merino or lambswool should match the fibre supplied.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 2 tonnes of 2/48 Nm merino worsted yarn under 5107 10 90 00, invoiced at £60,000 free on board, with £1,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £61,200. Duty at 2% is £1,224. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £62,424, so it is £12,484.80. Import taxes total £13,708.80; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,224 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.
Performance: knit test panels and check pilling and washing behaviour. See our 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
Worsted yarn orders fail on blend, micron and lots. Wool content is lower than stated, which also changes the duty rate, micron is coarser than paid for, and dye lots differ.
Cambridge China Bridge sources fabrics and yarns for UK brands and makers from small lots, with lab dips and samples approved first; see small orders.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on worsted wool yarn from China?
Combed wool yarn with 85% or more wool carried 2%; blends with less wool carried 4%.
Is retail-packed wool yarn in heading 5107?
No. Wool yarn put up for retail sale is heading 5109.
What does micron mean for wool?
Fibre diameter; lower micron wool is finer and softer.
Can I call the yarn merino?
Only if the fibre supplied is merino; the label and claims must match the fibre.