Sourcing woven terry velour fabric from China

Zero duty on woven terry velour fabric

Heading 5802 covers terry towelling and similar woven terry fabrics, as well as tufted textile fabrics. This guide concerns woven terry fabric with a sheared velour surface, supplied in rolls. See the wider terry towelling fabric guide. The table repeats the relevant cotton and other-textile codes for plain and printed buying options.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, the cotton and other-textile woven terry lines carry 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff facts record no anti-dumping or countervailing duties, suspensions or attached import controls for these lines.

Confirm the commodity code using the actual construction and fibre composition. Give your broker a fabric sample and the mill's construction details rather than relying on the word velour. Knitted terry follows a different classification, as explained in the wider guide.

Specify the sheared face and loop backing

Specify fibre composition, finished weight per square metre, usable width, roll length, ground and pile yarns, and which face is sheared. Agree pile height, surface coverage, reverse-loop appearance and pile direction. Keep an approved physical sample showing the required handle and finish.

Agree washing conditions and acceptance limits for shrinkage, colour transfer, lint shedding and absorbency. For printed fabric, approve print definition and colour on the actual sheared surface. Ask the mill to identify roll direction and dye lots so the cutting room can keep matching panels together.

For consumer sales in Great Britain, textile labels must show fibre content, including fur and other animal parts where present. Dyes and finishes are subject to UK REACH restrictions. Ask for composition evidence and agree relevant chemical testing with the testing and certification service.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 12,000 m² of cotton woven terry velour fabric in rolls under 5802 10 00 00, invoiced at £30,000 free on board, with £2,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £32,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £32,000, so it is £6,400. 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

Surface: brush sampled fabric with and against the pile; compare it with the approved sample for uneven shearing, bald patches, streaks and loose lint.

Dimensions: measure finished weight, usable width and sampled roll lengths against the order and packing list; inspect the reverse for missing or pulled loops.

Wash performance: wash samples under the agreed conditions, then check shrinkage, surface appearance, lint release and absorbency against the agreed limits.

Colour and packing: compare rolls with the pile facing the same direction; check print clarity, rubbing transfer, dye-lot identification and dry protective wrapping. See quality inspection.

What goes wrong

Uneven shearing leaves stripes or exposed ground, while loose cut fibres shed during handling and washing. Pile laid in different directions can make matching panels look different in shade. Compare samples in the same orientation before rejecting a dye lot or approving cutting.

A soft surface can hide poor absorbency, and excessive shrinkage can leave finished pieces undersized. Approve washed samples before bulk cutting, retain a sample from each dye lot and record defects by roll so affected material can be separated.

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.