At the UK border, Turkish and Chinese knitwear are taxed very differently. Here's the gap, what it does to landed cost, and an honest note on where China still wins.
A Chinese-made jumper lands in the UK under the UK Global Tariff — commonly ~8–12% for knitwear. A qualifying Turkish jumper lands at 0% under the UK–Türkiye FTA. Same product category, very different duty. For a UK brand, that gap is often the single biggest line separating the two sourcing options.
| Factor | Turkey | China |
|---|---|---|
| UK import duty (knitwear) | 0% (FTA, if qualifying) | ~8–12% (UK Global Tariff) |
| Proof needed | EUR.1 / origin declaration | None — full rate applies |
| Ocean transit to UK | ~10–14 days (short-sea) | ~4–6 weeks |
| Typical MOQ | 250 / colour | 500–1,000 |
| Modern Slavery traceability | Short single-site chain | Often long / opaque |
Indicative — duty depends on commodity code and qualifying origin. Confirm current rates with your customs broker.
Unit price is only the start. Add a ~8–12% duty to the Chinese option, plus four-to-six-week freight and the working capital tied up in it, and a slightly higher ex-works price from Turkey frequently lands lower — duty-free, and on the shelf weeks sooner. Run it on your own numbers: ex-works price + freight + duty + carrying cost, both sides.
The gap isn't everything. For very large single-style runs and ultra-low-cost commodity basics, China's scale can still beat Turkey on unit cost even after the tariff. Turkey's lane is mid-sized, design-led, compliance-sensitive knitwear with fast turns and duty-free entry. Use each for what it's best at.
Send your styles. We'll quote ex-works so you can drop our number into your UK landed-cost model — with the 0% duty in.