Commodity Codes for Clothing: What Importers Need to Know
A practical guide to classifying clothing imports correctly. Learn how material composition, garment type, and gender affect your commodity code.
Clothing is one of the most commonly imported product categories in the UK, but it's also one of the trickiest to classify correctly. The difference between a "pullover" and a "cardigan" or "woven" and "knitted" can mean different duty rates and potential customs issues.
Why Clothing Classification is Complex
Unlike electronics or machinery where the function often determines the code, clothing classification depends on multiple factors:
- Material composition (cotton, wool, synthetic, blends)
- Construction method (knitted vs woven)
- Garment type (shirt, jacket, trousers)
- Gender/age (men's, women's, children's)
- Whether it's part of a set
Getting any of these wrong can result in the wrong commodity code.
Key Chapters for Clothing
Most clothing falls into two main chapters of the UK Trade Tariff:
Chapter 61: Knitted or Crocheted Clothing
This includes garments made from knitted fabric - think t-shirts, jumpers, leggings, and most casual wear.
Common codes:
- 6109 - T-shirts, singlets, vests (knitted)
- 6110 - Jerseys, pullovers, cardigans, waistcoats (knitted)
- 6104 - Women's suits, dresses, skirts (knitted)
- 6103 - Men's suits, jackets, trousers (knitted)
Chapter 62: Woven Clothing
This covers garments made from woven fabric - typically shirts, blouses, tailored jackets, and formal wear.
Common codes:
- 6205 - Men's shirts (woven)
- 6206 - Women's blouses and shirts (woven)
- 6203 - Men's suits, jackets, trousers (woven)
- 6204 - Women's suits, jackets, dresses, skirts (woven)
The Material Question
After determining the garment type, the next critical factor is material composition. The code changes based on:
Natural Fibres
- Cotton - Most common, often lower duty rates
- Wool/fine animal hair - Includes cashmere, alpaca
- Silk - Premium category with specific codes
- Flax/linen - Separate classification
Synthetic Fibres
- Man-made fibres - Polyester, nylon, acrylic
- Artificial fibres - Viscose, rayon
Blended Materials
Here's where it gets tricky. When a garment contains multiple materials, classification follows the predominant material by weight rule.
A jumper that's 60% cotton and 40% polyester is classified as cotton. But if it's 45% cotton and 55% polyester, it's classified under synthetic fibres.
Always check the care label or product specifications for the exact composition.
Common Classification Mistakes
1. Confusing Knitted and Woven
A common error is misclassifying a woven cotton shirt (Chapter 62) as a knitted item (Chapter 61). The visual difference isn't always obvious, but the codes are entirely different.
Tip: Knitted fabric stretches in all directions. Woven fabric typically only stretches diagonally (on the bias).
2. Ignoring Gender Classification
Men's and women's garments have different codes, even if they look identical. A unisex t-shirt must still be classified - usually based on how it's marketed or cut.
3. Sets vs Individual Items
A matching jacket and trousers sold together might be classified as a suit (one code) or as separate items (two codes), depending on whether they meet the legal definition of a suit.
4. Misidentifying Garment Type
Is it a jacket or a coat? A pullover or a cardigan? These distinctions matter:
- Pullover - Goes over the head, no front opening
- Cardigan - Opens at the front with buttons or zip
- Jacket - Typically hip-length or shorter
- Coat - Longer, designed for outerwear
Duty Rates: Why Accuracy Matters
Clothing duty rates vary significantly. For example:
| Item | Approximate Duty Rate |
|---|---|
| Cotton t-shirt (knitted) | 12% |
| Synthetic t-shirt (knitted) | 12% |
| Wool jumper (knitted) | 12% |
| Silk blouse (woven) | 12% |
| Leather jacket | 4% |
| Cotton shirt (woven) | 12% |
While many standard clothing items attract similar rates, the differences in specific subcategories can be significant. More importantly, using the wrong code can trigger customs queries, delays, and potential penalties.
Tips for Accurate Classification
- Always check the composition label - Don't guess the material
- Know if it's knitted or woven - This determines the chapter
- Be specific about the garment type - Generic descriptions cause problems
- Consider the intended wearer - Men's, women's, or children's
- Check if items form a set - Suits have specific rules
How Tariffik Simplifies This
Instead of manually navigating the Trade Tariff's thousands of clothing codes, Tariffik analyses your product descriptions and suggests the most appropriate code.
Simply:
1. Paste a product URL or description
2. Our AI identifies the garment type, material, and other key factors
3. Get a suggested commodity code with confidence rating
4. Review the reasoning to understand why that code was selected
Whether you're importing a single designer piece or containers of fast fashion, accurate classification keeps your shipments moving and your costs predictable.