Sourcing woven fibreglass sleeving from China

Duty and classification for woven sleeving

Heading 7019 covers glass fibres and articles made from them. The supplied tariff extract has no line named woven sleeving. The table identifies fabric categories to discuss with your broker, including fabric inputs for fabricated sleeves; these are not interchangeable finished-sleeve classifications. For related fabric forms, see woven glass fibre tapes.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, the listed lines carry 6% duty for goods from China. The supplied extract records no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension on these lines. It attaches supplementary-unit import and import and export waste controls to 7019 69 90 84. Ask your customs broker to confirm the supplementary-unit declaration and whether the waste controls apply to your shipment.

For waste imports into England under notification controls, the exporter must seek consent from the competent authority in the dispatch country, China for a direct shipment. Confirm the remaining waste requirements with your broker before shipping. Supply a sample, construction details, coating composition and intended use to confirm the commodity code. Check coated, impregnated and braided products separately.

Specify bore, weave and coating

Specify woven tubular construction or a sleeve sewn from woven fabric, glass type, internal diameter, wall thickness, length, flexibility and cut-end finish. Identify any seam and its position. Record coating chemistry and whether the sleeve is coated, impregnated or uncoated. Agree how diameter is measured, since a flattened sleeve and a sleeve fitted over a mandrel give different readings.

Separate continuous operating temperature from brief heat exposure. Ask for reports identifying the exact sleeve, coating and test conditions behind thermal, flame or electrical insulation claims. For electrical use, agree dielectric testing and conditioning with the equipment designer. Test fit over the actual cable, connector or hose before approving the sample.

UK REACH generally covers substances in articles, and its restrictions can limit, ban or condition their supply and use. Obtain coating composition and a UK REACH statement for the ordered product. Separately supplied components may need individual conformity assessment and marking; check the product-specific rules before agreeing labels. Use testing and certification support to define the evidence needed.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 6,000 metres of unimpregnated woven fibreglass sleeving, subject to classification confirmation under 7019 69 90 84, invoiced at £9,000 free on board, with £2,400 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £11,400. Duty at 6% is £684. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £12,084, so it is £2,416.80. Import taxes total £3,100.80; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £684 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Fit: measure the internal diameter and wall thickness using the agreed method, then slide sampled sleeves over the intended assembly and check bends.

Weave and ends: check missing yarns, gaps, seam integrity, snagging and fraying after cutting against the approved sample.

Coating and performance: inspect bare patches, cracking and tackiness after bending; match batch reports and agreed test results to the supplied coating and diameter.

Packing and identity: check lengths, joins, batch labels and dry packaging on arrival. Retain samples and photographs using the inspection guide.

What goes wrong

A sleeve can fit the cable but fail to pass over its connector. A flattened-width specification can also produce the wrong bore. Loose weaving opens during installation, cut ends unravel, and a coating that looks sound on a straight sample can crack around a bend. Agree fit checks and cut-end handling before approving production.

A report for bare glass yarn does not demonstrate the performance of a coated finished sleeve. Watch for reports covering a different coating or size, and for brief heat-exposure results presented as continuous operating ratings. Compare the actual sleeve with the approved sample and investigate changes before releasing the batch.

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.