{"id":2209,"date":"2021-06-17T09:28:46","date_gmt":"2021-06-17T09:28:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/examinechina.com\/blog\/?p=2209"},"modified":"2025-06-16T10:05:38","modified_gmt":"2025-06-16T08:05:38","slug":"import-of-clothing-from-china-to-the-eu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.examinechina.com\/import-of-clothing-from-china-to-the-eu\/","title":{"rendered":"Import of clothing from China to the European Union"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>China has long been one of the crucial factors influencing the textile industry\u2019s development. It manufactures most of the garments in the world and is also the most significant textile exporter. For many importers, China is a country where you can buy many clothes and sell them with a big profit. Chinese manufacturers provide clothing both at a reasonable price and high quality. This article presents all you need to know about the import of clothing from China to the EU.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Production areas of clothes in China<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Chinese textile industry is located mainly on the country\u2019s east coast, in <a href=\"https:\/\/examinechina.com\/blog\/industries-in-zhejiang-province-china\/\">Zhejiang<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/examinechina.com\/blog\/factories-in-jiangsu-province-china\/\">Jiangsu<\/a> provinces. The largest, well-equipped textile businesses, using all kinds of technologically advanced textile machines, are located there. Other worth paying attention regions are <a href=\"https:\/\/examinechina.com\/blog\/factories-in-guangdong-province-china\/\">Guangdong<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/examinechina.com\/blog\/factories-in-fujian-province-china\/\">Fujian<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/examinechina.com\/blog\/factories-in-shandong-province-china\/\">Shandong<\/a> provinces.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"http:\/\/examinechina.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/clothing-map-provinces-1024x615.jpg\" alt=\"Production areas of clothes - provinces\" class=\"wp-image-2212 lazyload\" width=\"700\"\/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/examinechina.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/clothing-map-provinces-1024x615.jpg\" alt=\"Production areas of clothes - provinces\" class=\"wp-image-2212 lazyload\" width=\"700\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.examinechina.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/clothing-map-provinces-1024x615.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.examinechina.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/clothing-map-provinces-300x180.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.examinechina.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/clothing-map-provinces-768x461.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.examinechina.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/clothing-map-provinces.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Guangzhou \u2013 textile production area<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/examinechina.com\/blog\/guangzhou-fabric-market\/\">Guangzhou<\/a> is the capital city of the Guangdong province and the third biggest city in China. It concentrates many textile production facilities. It plays a vital role in the development of the clothing industry in the region. The fabrics market Zhongda, located there, is one of the biggest in China. It\u2019s an area in the Haizhou District with many textiles, clothes and accessories points and centers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Wenzhou \u2013 footwear production area<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/examinechina.com\/blog\/wenzhou-footwear-production-area-in-china\/\">Wenzhou<\/a> is a city in the Zhejiang province and one of China\u2019s most significant production areas of footwear. As a result, the city is often referred to as \u201cthe Chinese capital of footwear.\u201d More than three thousand shoe manufacturers release a billion different pairs a year. Most of them are located in three places: the Lucheng District, Yongjia County, and Rui\u2019an.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Zhili \u2013 children\u2019s clothing production area<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/examinechina.com\/blog\/childrens-clothing-production-area-in-china\/\">Zhili<\/a> is an important production area of children\u2019s clothing in China, called \u201cthe city of children\u2019s clothes.\u201d It\u2019s located in the Wuxing District in the Zhejiang province. The region prides itself on a complete industrial chain of children\u2019s garments, including design, manufacturing, sales, warehousing, and logistics. Over half of the kids\u2019 clothing yearly production in China takes place in Zhili.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Keqiao \u2013 textile production area<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Along with Guangzhou, <a href=\"https:\/\/examinechina.com\/blog\/textile-production-area-in-china\/\">Keqiao<\/a> in the Zhejiang province is also a crucial area of China\u2019s textile production. Over a quarter of textiles\u2019 global manufacture is sold in numerous wholesale centers in the city. In addition, Keqiao is located on the New Silk Road and is a worldwide center of textiles distribution.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"http:\/\/examinechina.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/clothing-map-cities-1024x624.jpg\" alt=\"Production areas of clothes - cities\" class=\"wp-image-2213 lazyload\" width=\"700\"\/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/examinechina.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/clothing-map-cities-1024x624.jpg\" alt=\"Production areas of clothes - cities\" class=\"wp-image-2213 lazyload\" width=\"700\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.examinechina.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/clothing-map-cities-1024x624.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.examinechina.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/clothing-map-cities-300x183.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.examinechina.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/clothing-map-cities-768x468.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.examinechina.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/clothing-map-cities.jpg 1085w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Import of clothing from China to the EU \u2013 customs rates<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Before importing clothes from China, it\u2019s essential to check their customs rates, which are considerably varied. One can find the duty rates on goods imported into the European Union in the TARIC system. Garments are in Section XI concerning \u201cTextiles and textile articles.\u201d Below we present an example of custom duty rates on clothing along with the applicable HS codes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>T-shirts, singlets and other vests, knitted or crocheted of cotton or other textile material (6109100010) \u2013 12%<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tracksuits, ski suits and swimwear, knitted or crocheted of cotton or other textile material (6112110000) \u2013 12%<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Jerseys, pullovers, cardigans, waistcoats and similar articles, knitted or&nbsp; crocheted of wool or fine animal hair (6110113000) \u2013 12%<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pantyhose, tights, stockings, socks and other hosiery, including graduated compression hosiery and footwear without applied soles, knitted or crocheted, of synthetic fibres (6115210000) \u2013 12%<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Overcoats, raincoats, car coats, capes, cloaks and similar articles, of cotton (6201121010) \u2013 12%<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Suits, ensembles, jackets, blazers, trousers, bib and brace overalls, breeches and shorts (6203193000) \u2013 12%<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Men\u2019s or boys\u2019 shirts, of cotton (6205200090) \u2013 12%<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Women\u2019s or girls\u2019 blouses, shirts and shirt-blouses, of silk or silk waste (6206100000) \u2013 12%<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Underpants and briefs, of cotton (6207110000) \u2013 12%<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Babies\u2019 garments of clothing and accessories, of cotton (6209200090) \u2013 10.5%<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Swimwear (6211110000) \u2013 12%<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ski suits, of wool or fine Animal hair, of cotton or of man-made fibres, or other textile materials (6211200010) \u2013 12%<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Brassieres, in a set made up for retail sale containing a brasserie and a pair of briefs (6212101000) \u2013 6.5%<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Corselettes (6212300000) \u2013 6.5%<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Shawls, scarves, mufflers, mantillas, veils and the like, of silk or silk waste (6214100090) \u2013 8%<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ties, bow ties and cravats, of silk or silk waste (6215100090) \u2013 6.3%<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Gloves, mittens and mitts (62160000) 7.6%<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Worn clothing and other worn articles (6309000000) \u2013 5.3%<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>In the case of garments, the duty rates may vary according to the textile used, manufacturing method, and women\u2019s and men\u2019s clothing. That is why it\u2019s worth paying particular attention to such matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Import of clothing from China to the EU \u2013 requirements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When importing from China to the European Union, it\u2019s obligatory to know all the mandatory requirements concerning a product. First and foremost, the importers of garments must pay attention to labeling. It means they have to know what kind of materials have been used to manufacture the clothes. The materials must be compliant with Regulation (EC) No 1907\/2006 of the European Parliament and of The Council concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemicals (<a href=\"https:\/\/examinechina.com\/blog\/reach\/\">REACH<\/a>). The primary purpose of this regulation is to protect human health and life. In this case, it aims to prove that the clothes aren\u2019t made from materials containing SVHC substance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What information must be on the tag?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Product\u2019s name<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Data about the importer<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Name of the country where the producer\u2019s headquarters is located (if it\u2019s a country outside of the EU and EFTA)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Raw material composition in %<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Method of conservation in a graphic form and a description<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Information and symbols will help consumers take care of the clothes, meaning symbols concerning washing, ironing, and drying.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember that the tag has to be in the language of the country the garments are destined to. Therefore, it\u2019s worth taking care of this matter before the import to avoid any inconvenience during customs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">CITES Permit<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If the clothing is made of materials of animal origin, that is, leather and fur, one must make sure to obtain a CITES permit for their import. CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) contains a list of endangered animals that cannot be imported. It aims to protect wild species of plants and animals. That\u2019s why, when importing such garments, it\u2019s obligatory to fulfill this requirement.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"http:\/\/examinechina.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/cites-form.png\" alt=\"CITES Permit\" class=\"wp-image-2214 lazyload\" width=\"600\"\/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/examinechina.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/cites-form.png\" alt=\"CITES Permit\" class=\"wp-image-2214 lazyload\" width=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.examinechina.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/cites-form.png 590w, https:\/\/www.examinechina.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/cites-form-210x300.png 210w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Source: cites.org<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">OEKO-TEX<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Oeko-Tex is one of the most significant and credible eco-labels in the world. Although it\u2019s not obligatory to obtain it, it for sure distinguishes the product on the market. Such marking means that the piece of clothing is free of harmful substances and meets specific quality criteria. What\u2019s more, it reduces textile produced using substances detrimental to health and hazardous in terms of use with prolonged contact with the skin on the market. If a product has the Oeko-Tex mark, it means that every element of it has been thoroughly tested. Therefore, it\u2019s worth getting such a label to increase the prestige and trustworthiness of your garments.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/examinechina.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/oeko-tex.png\" alt=\"OEKO TEX\" class=\"wp-image-4800 lazyload\" width=\"400\"\/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/examinechina.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/oeko-tex.png\" alt=\"OEKO TEX\" class=\"wp-image-4800 lazyload\" width=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.examinechina.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/oeko-tex.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.examinechina.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/oeko-tex-300x143.png 300w, https:\/\/www.examinechina.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/oeko-tex-768x367.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>One must also pay attention to the reservation applying to branded products. Retail prices of branded clothing in Chine are pretty high. That\u2019s why it\u2019s unlikely that a Chinese company will offer favorable prices for branded clothing in an international transaction. It means most of the offers concerning such clothes are counterfeit products. It\u2019s better to avoid such suspicious offers to prevent our products from being taken over by the Customs Office. This way, you\u2019ll also protect yourself from losing money and paying the financial penalty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Apparel and clothing trade fairs in China<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the best methods to find a supplier from China is attending a specialized trade fair. China offers a variety of such events in cities all over the country. They allow importers to test the products and personally talk to the suppliers. It\u2019s also a great opportunity to negotiate with manufacturers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Below is a list of fairs during which articles from the apparel and clothing category are presented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Shenzhen International Brand Underwear Fair<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>SIUF is a high-class platform for international brands and domestic production bases of underwear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Location: Shenzhen Convention &amp; Exhibition Center, Shenzhen<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Official website: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.siuf.com\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">siuf.com\/en<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Intertextile Shenzhen Apparel Fabrics Fair<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This event is an excellent opportunity to meet with international suppliers of high-quality textiles and clothing manufacturers in the rapidly growing region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Location: Shenzhen World Exhibition &amp; Convention Center, Shenzhen<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Official website: <a href=\"https:\/\/intertextile-shenzhen.hk.messefrankfurt.com\/shenzhen\/en.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">intertextile-shenzhen.hk.messefrankfurt.com\/shenzhen\/en.html<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Hongkong Fashion Week Spring\/Summer<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The fair offers a wide variety of all-season products and services such as fashion accessories, bridal and evening wear, intimate wear, clothing material, and accessories, children\u2019s wear, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Location: Hong Kong Convention &amp; Exhibition Center, Hong Kong<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Official website: <a href=\"https:\/\/event.hktdc.com\/fair\/hkfashionweekfw-en\/HKTDC-Hong-Kong-Fashion-Week\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">event.hktdc.com\/fair\/hkfashionweekfw-en\/HKTDC-Hong-Kong-Fashion-Week<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Import of clothing from China to the EU \u2013 summary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Import of clothing from China to the EU maintains its popularity due to the high quality and reasonable price that Chinese manufacturers offer. Buying large amounts of garments cheaply and selling them off may be a profitable business. However, one must keep in mind that importing clothing from China to the EU comes with some obligations. Therefore, if you want to import clothes from the Chinese, you must ensure that they meet all the European requirements. Also, make sure to <a href=\"https:\/\/examinechina.com\/credit-report\/\">verify your supplier<\/a> before completing the transaction to guarantee they\u2019re reliable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re interested in buying clothes from China, we also encourage you to read our article about <a href=\"https:\/\/examinechina.com\/blog\/us-duty-rate-for-clothes-imported-from-china\/\">importing clothing to the US<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>China has long been one of the crucial factors influencing the textile industry\u2019s development. It manufactures most of the garments in the world and is also the most significant textile exporter. For many importers, China is a country where you &#8230; <a title=\"Import of clothing from China to the European Union\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.examinechina.com\/import-of-clothing-from-china-to-the-eu\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Import of clothing from China to the European Union\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2211,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[224,63,64,241],"class_list":["post-2209","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-import","tag-clothing-from-china","tag-import-from-china","tag-import-to-the-eu","tag-importers-obligations","generate-columns","tablet-grid-50","mobile-grid-100","grid-parent","grid-50"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.examinechina.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2209","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.examinechina.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.examinechina.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.examinechina.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.examinechina.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2209"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.examinechina.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2209\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9074,"href":"https:\/\/www.examinechina.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2209\/revisions\/9074"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.examinechina.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2211"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.examinechina.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2209"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.examinechina.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2209"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.examinechina.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2209"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}