Sourcing woven rattan matting from China

Zero duty on rattan matting

Heading 4601 covers plaiting materials woven or bound into sheets, including mats and matting. Rattan mats and matting fall within the rattan branches distinguished by whether they are made from plaits or similar products. The other rattan sheet-product rows are classification comparisons for material supplied for further manufacture.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 4 October 2026, the relevant rattan lines carried 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspensions or attached import controls for these lines. Zero customs duty does not remove import VAT; see UK import duty and VAT.

Confirm the commodity code using the material, construction and supplied form, supported by photographs and a sample. Describe whether the shipment contains finished mats, matting or other sheet material. See the wider rattan cane webbing guide when comparing related products.

Specify the weave, edges and intended use

State whether you need rolls or cut mats, the rattan strip width, weave pattern, overall dimensions, thickness and acceptable variation. Specify natural or coloured material, coating, backing and edge binding. Keep an approved sample showing the acceptable colour range and surface texture. For furniture inserts, trial the material in the intended frame before approving bulk production.

Agree a drying method, moisture acceptance limit and packing method. Ask the factory to identify every coating and mould treatment. UK REACH prohibits using dimethyl fumarate in articles above 0.1 mg/kg. Consumer matting sold in Great Britain must be safe under the General Product Safety Regulations 2005; assess splinters, exposed ends and the intended use.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 2,000 cut woven rattan mats; illustrative FOB and freight values under 4601 22 90 00, invoiced at £8,000 free on board, with £1,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £9,200. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £9,200, so it is £1,840. 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

Dimensions and shape: measure width and length against the order, unroll sampled material and check whether it lies flat. Trial cut sheets in the intended frame or installation.

Weave and edges: check strip consistency, broken strands, unintended gaps, loose intersections and unravelled edges. Feel for sharp ends and splinters.

Moisture and pests: compare moisture readings with the agreed limit, inspect inner layers for mould and musty smells, and look for insect holes or fresh powder.

Finish and packing: compare colour and coating with the approved sample, rub for colour transfer, and inspect roll protection and carton condition on arrival. Check treatment and marking of non-exempt solid-wood pallets or crates. Plan sampling with the quality inspection guide.

What goes wrong

Matting packed damp can arrive mouldy inside otherwise clean cartons. Uneven strip widths distort the weave, cut edges unravel, and curled sheets fail to sit neatly in a frame. Colour variation becomes conspicuous when adjacent panels come from different batches.

Agree defect examples and acceptance limits with the factory before production. Inspect inside rolls before loading and retain batch samples. Specify compliant solid-wood packaging for shipments into Great Britain. Do not accept an unspecified mould treatment as a substitute for drying and moisture checks.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For repeat volumes, see container programmes.