How to export beer from the UK to China

Register the brewery before ordinary imports

Beer made from malt falls under HS 220300. GACC Decree 280 requires overseas food manufacturers to register; the brewery applies itself or through an agent. Confirm the beer category in GACC's registration system. The food safety MoU effective on 29 January 2026 created the cooperation mechanism for simplified batch registration of UK food manufacturers; confirm with the relevant authority whether and how your brewery can use it. Plan for approvals to take months, not weeks: the Chinese authority decides.

HMRC recorded £5.5m of UK goods exports to mainland China under HS 220300 in 2025 (2024: £21.1m, -74%). Exports to Hong Kong under the same codes were £3.6m. January to July 2026: £2.8m against £3.4m in the same months of 2025 (-16.9%).

The largest UK export line to China was under HS 22030009: beer in containers holding <= 10 l, excluding bottles, at £3.9m in 2025. Use the container format to distinguish your UK export line rather than treating every beer shipment as the same classification.

Price against the Chinese border taxes

Chinese tariff line 22030000 carries a 0% MFN rate. The VAT Law sets the standard import VAT rate at 13%, subject to its exceptions. Import VAT is calculated on customs value plus customs duty plus consumption tax. The importer's customs broker confirms whether consumption tax applies to the beer. These taxes add to landed cost and shape the price the importer can offer.

Prepare the beer label and standards review

For ordinary imports, prepackaged beer needs a compliant Chinese label naming its place of origin and the domestic agent's name, address and contact details. GACC Decree 280 also requires the manufacturer's China registration number, or its home authority's approved number, on the packaging. Include GB 2758-2012, the food safety standard for fermented alcoholic drinks and their preparations, in the product review with your Chinese partner.

Arrange the UK declaration and excise movement

For exports from England, Scotland or Wales, use a GB EORI and classify the beer under the correct UK commodity code. The export declaration needs value, weight, packaging, destination, transport and invoice and packing list references. Excise Notice 196 identifies goods for export among goods that will not bear UK excise duty. Confirm the movement and declaration arrangements for your consignment with your excise adviser before treating the beer as exempt.

Consider cross-border retail for personal-use orders

Beer is on the cross-border e-commerce retail import list under 22030000. Through bonded 1210 or direct 9610 channels, listed goods are supervised as personal-use articles, with first-import licensing, registration and filing requirements not applied. Exceptions cover goods from suspended epidemic areas and emergency handling of major quality and safety risks.

This route serves consumers buying for personal use; the beer may not be resold. Consumers must agree to a risk notice covering possible differences from Chinese standards and possible absence of a Chinese label, with a Chinese electronic label available online. The overseas business bears the main quality and safety responsibility and must appoint a mainland-registered company for customs registration, truthful declaration and shared civil liability.

Check the importer before committing stock

Ask a prospective importer to identify its intended route, the brewery registration it will rely on and who will review the Chinese artwork against GB 2758-2012 and the labelling requirements. Have its customs broker confirm classification and the landed-cost calculation before you agree the supply price.

Our own staff in China find and check Chinese importers and distributors for UK brands. If an importer has already approached your brewery, our staff in China check that company before stock is sent or anything is signed. Use our export-to-China service for this work.

We prepare registration and label work with licensed partners in China. The importer of record and, for cross-border retail, the cross-border e-commerce agent remain licensed partners in China. Your own filings stay yours.