Sourcing woven moquette from China
Woven moquette upholstery fabric from China carries 8% UK duty across the supplied heading 5801 lines. For cover fabric intended for domestic upholstered furniture, confirm with Trading Standards the scope of the fire regulations and the applicable cigarette and match resistance requirements. Cambridge China Bridge sources woven moquette upholstery fabric.
8% duty on woven moquette
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. For woven moquette upholstery fabric, select the line by fibre composition and pile construction. All supplied lines carry 8% duty for goods from China, with no recorded anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no tariff suspension.
The wool or fine animal hair line and the residual other-textile-material line attach CITES import and export controls. CITES specimens need an import permit for Great Britain. For a shipment from China using these lines, identify the species and ask the customs broker to confirm whether CITES applies, any species-specific restriction and the required import and export documents.
Give the broker the fibre breakdown, weave description, backing details and a sample to confirm the commodity code. The table gives candidate lines, rather than a classification based on the name moquette alone. See the woven plush upholstery guide for the wider product family.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woven pile fabric of wool or fine animal hair | 5801 10 00 00 | 8% | None |
| Cotton warp pile fabric, other than handloom-made | 5801 27 00 90 | 8% | None |
| Man-made fibre warp pile fabric | 5801 37 00 00 | 8% | None |
| Woven pile fabric of other residual textile materials | 5801 90 90 90 | 8% | None |
Specify the moquette pile, pattern and backing
Specify the pile and ground yarn composition, cut or loop pile construction, pile height, usable width, fabric weight, pattern repeat and pile direction. Agree shade references, dye-lot identification, backing treatment and cleaning method. Keep an approved sample showing the face and reverse, and ask for abrasion, rubbing colourfastness and cleaning-change results for the proposed fabric.
For domestic upholstered furniture, confirm with Trading Standards whether the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 apply and which cigarette and match resistance requirements the cover fabric must meet. Confirm whether the proposed permanent cover is eligible to use a compliant fire-resistant interliner instead of passing the match test. Agree the intended upholstery build and obtain reports matching the actual fabric and back-coating.
Fabric sold by the metre to consumers needs fibre composition information. The textile label must show fibre content, including fur and other animal parts. Compare the declared composition with the order specification.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 100 metres of man-made fibre woven moquette upholstery fabric, illustrative only under 5801 37 00 00, invoiced at £3,000 free on board, with £400 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £3,400. Duty at 8% is £272. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £3,672, so it is £734.40. Import taxes total £1,006.40; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £272 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Pile and shade: unroll fabric with the pile facing the same direction, compare rolls against the approved sample and inspect for crushing, loose pile and bald areas.
Pattern and dimensions: check usable width, pattern repeat, alignment and distortion across the roll; trial-cut matching upholstery panels before accepting the batch.
Backing and performance: inspect coating coverage, stiffness and adhesion; match abrasion, colourfastness and fire reports to the supplied construction and finish.
Roll identity and packing: check dye-lot references, declared composition, roll lengths and pile-direction marks; inspect tubes and wrapping for compression damage or moisture.
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What goes wrong
Panels cut against the pile direction can look like different shades even when they share a dye lot. Mixed dye lots, distorted pattern repeats and crushed pile can make adjacent seat panels visibly inconsistent. Trial an upholstered panel with the approved cutting direction before releasing rolls for production.
A changed backing can alter handle and invalidate the relevance of an earlier fire report. Thin or uneven treatment can cause fire-test failure, while loose pile and colour transfer may appear during use. Hold affected rolls for investigation and compare them with the retained sample before cutting.
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 moquette from China?
All supplied heading 5801 lines carry 8% duty for goods from China, with no recorded anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no tariff suspension.
Does moquette upholstery fabric need fire testing?
For domestic upholstered furniture, confirm with Trading Standards the fire regulations' scope and the applicable cigarette and match resistance requirements. Confirm whether the proposed permanent cover is eligible to use a compliant fire-resistant interliner for match resistance.
Is moquette always classified under the same commodity code?
No. Confirm fibre composition and pile construction, and provide a sample and backing details. The commercial name alone does not select a table row.
Why do moquette panels look different in colour?
Check pile direction, dye-lot identity and crushing. Compare panels under the same lighting with their pile aligned before deciding whether the dye shade differs.