China is one of the biggest manufacturers, as well as exporters of textiles in the world. Between 2019 and 2020, the total value of the textile sector in China grew by about 9.5%, totaling USD 291 billion. A great advantage of importing textiles from China to the European Union is its low price.

How to find textile manufacturers in China?

Every mentioned location can be found on the map:

Importing textiles from China to the European Union

Duty tariffs on textiles in the EU

Every importer is obligated to know current duty tariffs for imported goods. The custom duty and the HS Code of chosen product can be checked for free in the TARIC system. The system also has information about anti-dumping duty. All this data is needed for the successful customs of chosen goods in the European Union.

Below is a sample list of current duty tariffs on textile products from China:

• Woven fabrics of noil silk, manufactured on handlooms (5007100010) – 3%
• Fabrics of noil silk, containing 85% or more by weight of silk or of silk waste other than noil silk (5007204190) – 7.2%
• Fabrics of noil silk, containing 85% or more by weight of silk or of silk waste other than noil silk, dyed (5007205990) – 7.2%
• Woven fabrics of cotton, containing 85% or more by weight of cotton, weighing not more than 200 g/m2, unbleached, 3-thread or 4-thread twill, including cross twill (5208130000) – 8%
• Woven fabrics of cotton, containing 85% or more by weight of cotton, weighing not more than 200 g/m2, dyed, plain weave, weighing not more than 100 g/m2 (5208310000) – 8%
• Woven fabrics of cotton, containing 85% or more by weight of cotton, weighing not more than 200 g/m2, of yarns of different colors, plain weave, weighing not more than 100 g/m2 (5208410000) – 8%
• Woven fabrics of flax, containing 85% or more by weight of flax, (5309111000) – 8%
• Woven fabrics of flax, containing less than 85% by weight of flax (5309210000) – 8%
• Woven fabrics of jute or of other textile bast fiber, unbleached, of a width not exceeding 150 cm (5310101000) – 4%
• Woven fabrics of carded wool or of carded fine animal hair, containing 85% or more by weight of wool or fine animal hair, of weight not exceeding 300 g/m2 (5111110000) – 8%
• Terry toweling and similar woven terry fabrics of cotton (5802100000) – 8%
• Woven fabrics of synthetic filament yarn, including woven fabrics obtained from high-tenacity yarn of nylon or other polyamides or of polyesters (5407100090) – 8%
• Woven fabrics of synthetic staple fibers, containing 85% or more by weight of synthetic staple fibers, containing 85% or more by weight of polyester staple fibers (5512110000) – 8%

Textile import from China – requirements in the EU

Importers must abide by the mandatory conditions of the target market. The importer must fulfill all the requirements and obtain essential documentation to introduce the product in European Union. Negligence could cause refusal at customs and detain of shipment. What are the requirements for importing textile products from China?

REACH Regulation

Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006, called REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals), is the most complex and important legislation in the recent history of the European Union regarding product compliance. It aims to limit the harmful effects of chemicals on human health and the natural environment. Importing textiles (over 1,000 tons of chemical substances yearly) must be reported to the REACH database. This regulation is applied to every chemical substance.

CITES

Another important regulation for importing textiles is the Washington Convention (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, CITES). It classifies and determines which species of fauna and flora can be transported and traded. Moreover, under the CITES protection fall animals and plants by-products and goods manufactured with certain parts of them. CITES certification may be needed when handling certain kinds of textiles.

OEKO-TEX

OEKO-TEX is a non-mandatory registered trademark for textiles. Textile manufacturers can apply to get the mark. There are many advantages, as the trademark tells the consumers that the fabrics fulfill certain quality and safety requirements, which increases sales.

Textile fairs in China

There are a few ways to find a Chinese supplier. The first one is online e-commerce platforms, such as the most popular Alibaba, Made-in-China, HKTDC Sourcing, and others. They allow researching a wide range of potential suppliers and manufacturers without traveling to China.

Visiting a textile fair tradeshow will bring more benefits than just online research. Textile fairs always gather hundreds of suppliers from China and the rest of the world in one place. The visitors are not only able to check the product and its quality in person but also to cooperate and negotiate with producers face-to-face.

A list of some textile fairs in China:

• Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles at National Convention & Exhibit Center, Shanghai
  • intertextile-shanghai-hometextiles-autumn.hk.messefrankfurt.com/shanghai/en.html
• Greater Bay Area International Textile & Clothing Industry Fair at Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center, Shenzhen
  • dtcshow.com/en
• ITMA Asia & CITME at National Convention & Exhibition Center, Shanghai
  • itmaasia.com
• Yarn Expo at National Convention & Exhibition Center, Shanghai
  • yarn-expo-autumn.hk.messefrankfurt.com/shanghai/en.html
• Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics at National Convention & Exhibition Center, Shanghai
  • intertextile-shanghai-apparel-fabrics-autumn.hk.messefrankfurt.com/shanghai/en.html
• China Import and Export Fair at Canton Fair Complex, Guangzhou
  • cantonfair.org.cn/en-US

Importing textiles from China to the European Union – to sum up

• China is a world leader in both manufacturing and exporting textiles.
• Chinese manufacturers are located mostly in Guangdong, Jiangsu, Shandong, and Fujian provinces.
• Before importing from China to the European Union, check duty tariffs in the TARIC system and check if your suppliers provide necessary certificates – REACH, CITES, or non-obligatory OEKO-TEX.
• Remember to verify the Chinese supplier before establishing a partnership.
• Learn how to import clothing from China.