Sourcing woven bouclé pile fabric from China
Woven bouclé pile upholstery fabric from China carries 8% UK duty across the relevant heading 5801 lines. For domestic upholstery, confirm the applicable furniture fire rules and cigarette and match resistance requirements with Trading Standards. Confirm the pile construction and fibre content before ordering. Cambridge China Bridge sources woven bouclé pile upholstery fabric.
8% duty on woven bouclé pile fabric
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 5801 covers woven pile fabrics and chenille fabrics, excluding fabrics of headings 5802 and 5806. This guide concerns woven bouclé pile upholstery fabric with a raised loop surface. Ask for a construction sample and fibre breakdown: a bouclé trade name alone does not establish the commodity code. See the wider woven epingle upholstery guide.
All lines in the supplied heading snapshot carry 8% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measures and no tariff suspensions recorded. The tariff attaches CITES import and export controls to 5801 10 00 00 and 5801 90 90 90, and export controls to the silk and ramie lines. For animal-derived fabric from China, identify the species and confirm any permit requirement with your customs broker: CITES controls can cover products made from listed species.
The table gives possible lines for different fibre compositions and constructions, rather than interchangeable codes for any bouclé fabric. Confirm the commodity code using the actual weave, pile formation and composition. Check the current tariff measures before shipping.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woven pile upholstery fabric of wool or fine animal hair | 5801 10 00 00 | 8% | None |
| Cotton warp-pile upholstery fabric, other than handloom-made | 5801 27 00 90 | 8% | None |
| Man-made fibre warp-pile upholstery fabric | 5801 37 00 00 | 8% | None |
| Flax woven pile upholstery fabric | 5801 90 10 00 | 8% | None |
Specify the loops, backing and upholstery use
Agree whether the texture comes from woven pile loops or from bouclé yarn in a flat weave. Specify pile and ground fibre composition, usable width, weight per square metre, loop height and density, backing, stretch, colour and cleaning method. Approve a sample stretched over the intended cushion or seat shape, with the reverse visible.
For domestic upholstered furniture, confirm with Trading Standards the scope of the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 and the applicable cigarette and match resistance requirements. Ask whether the intended permanent cover can use a compliant fire-resistant interliner instead of passing the match test. Ask for test evidence matching the supplied fabric and actual backing or treatment, and agree the intended upholstery assembly with the testing laboratory.
Fabric sold by the metre to consumers needs fibre composition information. The textile label must show fibre content, including fur and other animal parts. Keep the approved composition with the purchase specification, and arrange testing and certification around the intended use.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 400 metres of polyester woven bouclé warp-pile upholstery fabric, illustrative under 5801 37 00 00, invoiced at £6,000 free on board, with £600 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £6,600. Duty at 8% is £528. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £7,128, so it is £1,425.60. Import taxes total £1,953.60; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £528 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Loop surface: compare bulk fabric with the approved sample for loop height, density, loose loops, pulled yarns, shedding and flattened patches.
Roll consistency: compare shades across rolls under the same lighting; check usable width, measured length, bowing, skew and marked defects.
Upholstery performance: check agreed abrasion, snagging, seam slippage, colour transfer and cleaning results; stretch a sample over the intended seat shape.
Backing and records: check coating consistency, stiffness, separation, roll identity, fibre information and matching fire-test evidence. Use the quality inspection guide to define acceptance checks.
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What goes wrong
A small swatch can hide loose loops that catch during use, seams that open under tension and a backing that stiffens the fabric. Deep loop texture can also disguise shade variation until neighbouring panels are fitted. Inspect an upholstered sample and bulk rolls before approving shipment.
A factory may change the yarn blend, loop density or back-coating after sample approval. The surface may still look similar while its handle, wear performance or fire-test evidence no longer matches the order. Record the approved construction and treatment, and investigate any substitution before accepting the goods.
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 woven bouclé pile upholstery fabric from China?
The supplied tariff snapshot shows 8% across the relevant heading 5801 lines, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measures and no tariff suspensions recorded.
Does bouclé upholstery fabric need fire testing?
Confirm with Trading Standards the applicable cigarette and match resistance requirements for domestic upholstery, and whether the intended permanent cover can use a compliant fire-resistant interliner instead of passing the match test.
Is all bouclé fabric classified as woven pile?
Do not select a code from the trade name alone. Ask the factory to show whether the surface comes from woven pile loops or bouclé yarn in a flat weave, then confirm classification from the actual construction.
What should I check when bouclé fabric arrives?
Check loop snagging, shedding, shade variation, usable width, backing consistency and seam behaviour. Match roll identities, fibre information and test evidence to the approved construction.