Sourcing woven hemp terry fabric from China

Duty on woven hemp terry fabric

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, heading 5802 covers terry towelling and similar woven terry fabrics, excluding narrow fabrics, and tufted textile fabrics. Woven hemp terry falls within the other-textile terry description at 5802 20 00 00. The table shows product options sharing that commodity line, rather than separate tariff subdivisions.

The supplied tariff snapshot records 0% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, tariff suspension or attached import control. This guide concerns woven fabric in rolls, rather than finished towels or knitted terry.

Confirm the commodity code against the actual construction and fibre composition, particularly where cotton or other fibres are blended with hemp. For related fabrics across the heading, see the woven ramie terry guide.

Specify hemp in the loops and ground

Ask the mill to identify the fibres used in the loop yarn and ground yarn separately. Specify overall fibre composition, yarn construction, mass per square metre, usable width, loop height, loop coverage and finish. Keep an approved physical sample showing the required handle, shade and loop structure.

For fabric sold by the metre to consumers in Great Britain, the label must show fibre content. Match the description to the tested composition. UK REACH generally applies to substances in articles; ask a testing laboratory to assess the proposed dyes and finishes for the intended use.

Agree washing conditions, acceptable dimensional change and an absorbency test before production. Assess the washed sample as well as the supplied fabric, since a soft finish can disguise a different handle or poor wetting performance.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 400 metres of dyed woven hemp terry fabric in rolls, illustrative order under 5802 20 00 00, invoiced at £6,000 free on board, with £400 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £6,400. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £6,400, so it is £1,280. With no duty, the only import tax is the VAT, which a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Composition: compare the fibre report with the order and confirm that it represents both the loop and ground yarns.

Dimensions: sample rolls for mass per square metre, usable width and roll length; compare the findings with the specification and packing list.

Loops and colour: inspect for missing or pulled loops, loose ground weaving, uneven pile and shade changes between rolls.

Washing and absorbency: wash samples using the agreed procedure, measure dimensional change and check wetting, colour transfer and the resulting handle.

What goes wrong

A supplier's hemp description may conceal a different ground-yarn composition from the approved sample. Uneven loops, excessive shrinkage or a water-repellent softener finish can also make the fabric unsuitable for the buyer's intended towel or robe.

Keep incoming rolls identifiable by batch and compare them with the retained sample before cutting. Hold fabric that fails the agreed checks while the mill investigates. Include these checks in the inspection brief.

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.