Sourcing woven coir rugs from China

A flat 4% duty for woven coir

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 4 October 2026, woven coconut-fibre floor coverings under 5702 20 00 00 carry 4% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record shows no anti-dumping or countervailing measure and no suspension for this line. Heading 5702 covers woven floor coverings, not tufted or flocked products. The table shows different coir formats sharing the same commodity line.

The tariff record attaches a DCMS Export Licence flag. Official guidance describes licensing for exports of objects of cultural interest from Great Britain to destinations outside the UK. Ask your customs broker to confirm how the attached flag should be handled for your shipment.

Confirm the commodity code using the actual fibre and construction, including the backing and binding. Do not classify a tufted mat as woven merely because its face is coir. For related woven natural-fibre products within the wider heading, see the woven sisal rugs guide.

Specify the coir weave, edges and backing

Describe the intended location, floor surface and cleaning method. Agree the coir face, weave pattern, thickness, finished dimensions, squareness, edge binding and backing material against an approved sample. Record acceptable natural colour variation separately from stains, uneven dyeing or loose fibres.

Consumer rugs sold in Great Britain must be safe in normal or reasonably foreseeable use. Assess curled edges and movement on the intended floor, and test any anti-slip claim. For carpets supplied for fitting in buildings, confirm applicable construction-product and reaction-to-fire requirements with the relevant authority. Confirm the intended use before commissioning tests.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative wholesale order of mixed-size woven coir rugs under 5702 20 00 00, invoiced at £21,000 free on board, with £3,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £24,500. Duty at 4% is £980. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £25,480, so it is £5,096. Import taxes total £6,076; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £980 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Weave and shedding: compare weave density, thickness and loose-fibre release with the approved sample; look for gaps, broken yarns and exposed backing.

Shape and edges: measure finished dimensions and squareness, unroll samples to check flatness, and inspect binding corners and stitching for loose ends.

Backing and colour: check backing adhesion, slipping and floor marking on the intended flooring; rub coloured areas to check transfer and compare shades across the batch.

Packing and arrival: check that rugs and wrapping are dry, inspect for mould, staining and strong odour, and look for crushed edges or roll distortion. Agree these checks in the inspection brief.

What goes wrong

A sample can conceal a looser production weave, heavier shedding or weaker edge binding. Uneven tension and backing can leave rugs distorted or curled after unpacking. Printed areas may transfer colour, while a backing that grips one floor can slip or mark another.

Inspect unpacked production samples before approving shipment. Agree how the supplier will assess shedding, flatness and colour variation, and check dry packing before loading. Keep arrival photographs and affected batch details so defects can be compared with the approved sample.

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.