Pricing · For Ugandan Brands

Knitwear Manufacturing Pricing: What Ugandan Brands Should Expect

We publish cost ranges rather than hiding them. Your final CMT price depends on stitch structure, yarn, gauge and order volume — and we set out honestly how EAC duty and the landlocked logistics leg to Kampala add to your landed cost.

We don't publish a single price list because knitwear pricing doesn't work that way. A 3-gauge chunky cable pullover and a 12-gauge WHOLEGARMENT seamless base layer require different machines, different machine time, different yarn weights, and different linking labour — their CMT costs are genuinely different. What we can do is give you the cost ranges by construction type, explain what moves your piece up or down within that range, and — because Uganda is a landlocked EAC market with no FTA with Turkey — set out clearly how import duty, VAT and the transit-port-plus-road leg to Kampala build into your landed cost. If you're new to ordering from Gaziantep, the OEM knitwear overview explains how we work.

CMT Cost Ranges by Construction Type

All prices are CMT only (cut, make, trim — labour and overhead). Yarn cost is separate and depends entirely on fibre, count, and market price at time of order. These are 2025–2026 ranges quoted ex-works / FOB Mersin; EAC duty, 18% VAT and the inland leg to Kampala are added on top. Actual quotes depend on your specific brief.

01

Basic Pullover / Crew Neck

$8–14 CMT
Fully-fashioned flat-knit, 7–12gg, single stitch structure (jersey, 1×1 rib). Standard linking. Low complexity. Typical for cotton basics and entry-price merino programs.

02

Textured / Patterned Knitwear

$14–22 CMT
Cable, jacquard, intarsia or structural texture. More machine programming, slower throughput, tighter QC. Mid-range merino, premium cotton, and wool-blend programs.

03

WHOLEGARMENT / Seamless

$18–30 CMT
Single-piece 3D knit on Shima Seiki. Slower per-unit throughput than panel construction. No linking cost. Best for premium, next-to-skin, and sustainability-positioned programs.

04

Chunky / Low-Gauge (3–5gg)

$12–20 CMT
Heavier yarn, larger loop structures. Slower machine throughput at low gauge despite visual simplicity. Typical for outerwear-weight sweaters, cardigans and chunky knit dresses.

From CMT to Landed Cost in Uganda

CMT is only the labour line. To plan your retail margin you need the landed cost in Kampala, and as a landlocked EAC market that calculation has a few honest extra steps. We'd rather you see them than be surprised at the URA counter.

What sits on top of FOB

  • EAC Common External Tariff — 25% on most knitted apparel
  • VAT at 18% on the duty-inclusive value at import
  • Sea freight Mersin to the transit port (Mombasa or Dar es Salaam)
  • Transit-port handling and Single Customs Territory clearance
  • Inland road freight on the Northern or Central Corridor to Kampala
  • URA processing and UNBS conformity / standards costs
  • Clearing-agent fees and any in-transit insurance

The honest position on price

  • No Turkey–Uganda FTA — no tariff advantage over China
  • Chinese goods carry the same 25% CET band; we won't pretend otherwise
  • The landlocked road leg adds freight that a coastal market avoids
  • Turkey wins on quality, consistency and English-language B2B handling
  • China+1 risk diversification, not the lowest sticker price
  • WHOLEGARMENT and fine-gauge capability most Chinese CMT shops don't offer
  • Premium positioning — we are a complement to, not the cheapest of, your sourcing mix

We can model an indicative landed cost per unit in UGX for your specific style so you go in with eyes open. For the deeper mechanics, the Uganda import-duty guide and the EAC Single Customs Territory explainer are worth a read.

What Moves Your Price Up or Down

Increases CMT cost

  • More stitch structures in one garment (cable + jacquard + rib)
  • Lower gauge (3–5gg) — slower machine throughput
  • Intarsia colour work (hand-placement at machine)
  • Small order volume (fewer units = less amortisation)
  • More panels (set-in sleeves vs raglan vs WHOLEGARMENT)
  • Hand-finishing: fulling, brushing, garment wash
  • Special sizes outside standard S–XL range

Decreases CMT cost

  • Single stitch structure (jersey, rib) — faster throughput
  • Mid-gauge 7–10gg — optimal machine speed
  • Standard construction (drop shoulder, raglan)
  • Higher volume (500+ units per style) — better amortisation
  • Standard colourways (no intarsia, max 2–3 yarn colours)
  • Repeat order of same or similar style (no reprogram)
  • Standard size range (XS–XL, 5 sizes)

Sample Fees

A

Proto Sample

$80–180 including courier to Uganda. One colourway, one size. Yarn may be substituted (closest available) if your specified yarn is not in stock. Turnaround: 10–14 days from tech pack approval.

B

Salesman Sample

$120–250 depending on construction. Production-spec yarn, production-spec construction. For showroom, buyer or boutique meetings. Turnaround: 14–21 days from proto sign-off.

C

Size Set

$60–100 per additional size from the first approved sample. For fit approval across your size run before bulk production. Recommended for fitted constructions and washed garments.

D

Bulk Pre-Production Sample

Included in bulk orders. One unit produced at the start of bulk to confirm production line matches approved samples. Standard practice; no additional charge.

Minimum Order Quantities

1
250 units per colour, per size — minimum per production run. This applies to all constructions including WHOLEGARMENT. The 250-unit MOQ covers machine setup, programming amortisation, and material efficiency. For landlocked importers it also helps the per-unit inland freight on the Kampala leg make sense.
2
No minimum for sampling — proto and salesman samples are single units. We produce samples at the fees above regardless of whether bulk follows. If bulk doesn't follow, we still produce the sample.
3
Volume discounts above 1,000 units — larger programs at 1,000+ units per colour unlock better CMT pricing. We'll quote this explicitly when your program reaches that scale.

Lead Time to Kampala

Production itself runs roughly 4–7 weeks depending on construction and volume. The shipping leg is what makes a landlocked plan different: cargo leaves Mersin, sails to a transit port — Mombasa on the Northern Corridor or Dar es Salaam on the Central Corridor — and then moves by road to Kampala. Under the EAC Single Customs Territory clearance is handled at the first point of entry, which keeps the border moving, but the inland haul still adds both time and freight. Plan for around 3–4 weeks door-to-Kampala after goods leave the factory, on top of production. We break this down style-by-style; the Uganda lead-time guide walks through a realistic timeline.

Payment Terms

Samples are paid in full before production. Bulk orders are typically 30% deposit on order confirmation, 70% balance before shipment (T/T bank transfer). We work with existing clients on net terms once a track record is established. We accept USD and EUR — pricing for Ugandan importers is quoted and settled in USD, with the local UGX cost falling out of duty, VAT and freight at import. Payments are made to a Turkish bank account (Garanti BBVA). We provide a pro forma invoice before any payment so your URA and UNBS paperwork can be prepared in advance.

Get a Quote for Your Specific Style

Send us your tech pack or design brief — or just a reference image and a construction description. We'll give you a CMT range for your specific piece within 1 business day, and a firm quote once we've confirmed gauge, stitch structure, and construction details. Tell us your Kampala delivery target and we'll map the transit-port route and timeline to match.

Ready to price your program?

Share your style and construction details. We'll quote CMT, confirm yarn options, and give you a production timeline and a landed-cost view for your Kampala delivery date.

Pricing & Sourcing Guides for Uganda

Pricing

Import Duty on Knitwear into Uganda

The honest picture on EAC CET, 18% VAT and what they mean for your landed cost.

Read guide →

Logistics

Shipping Knitwear Turkey to Uganda

A landlocked logistics guide — transit ports, the Kampala road leg and the real timeline.

Read guide →

Customs

The EAC Single Customs Territory

How first-point-of-entry clearance works for Ugandan importers — and what it saves you.

Read guide →

Strategy

Turkish vs Chinese Knitwear

What Ugandan brands should weigh when there's no tariff advantage — quality, China+1 and risk.

Read guide →

Guide

Production Lead Times for Ugandan Brands

A realistic timeline from tech pack to Kampala delivery, transit ports included.

Read guide →

FAQ

Does Turkey have a tariff advantage over China for Ugandan knitwear importers?

No. There is no free-trade agreement between Turkey and Uganda, so Turkish knitwear is assessed under the EAC Common External Tariff (25% on most knitted apparel) plus 18% VAT at import — the same duty band that applies to Chinese goods. Turkey is not the cheapest option on tariff; the case for Turkey is quality, China+1 supply diversification, WHOLEGARMENT capability and an English-language working relationship, not a duty saving.

What is the CMT cost for a knitted pullover supplied to Uganda?

CMT (cut, make, trim — labour only) ranges from roughly USD 8–14 for a basic fully-fashioned pullover up to USD 18–30 for WHOLEGARMENT seamless construction. Yarn is quoted separately. These are ex-works/FOB Mersin figures; EAC duty, 18% VAT, transit-port handling at Mombasa or Dar es Salaam and the inland road leg to Kampala are added on top to reach a landed cost in UGX.

How long does delivery to Kampala take and why?

Plan for around 3–4 weeks door-to-Kampala after goods leave Mersin. Uganda is landlocked with no port of its own, so cargo moves via a transit port — Mombasa on the Northern Corridor or Dar es Salaam on the Central Corridor — then by road to Kampala. Under the EAC Single Customs Territory, clearance is processed at the first point of entry, which streamlines the border, but the inland haul adds both time and freight cost that a coastal market would not carry.

What is your minimum order quantity?

250 units per colour, per size, including WHOLEGARMENT. There is no minimum for sampling — proto and salesman samples are produced as single units at the sample fees listed on this page.

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