Sourcing aluminium beverage cans from China
Empty aluminium beverage cans from China carry 6% UK duty across the relevant heading, with no trade remedy shown in the supplied tariff data. They are food-contact containers, so specify the internal lacquer for the drink and obtain supporting evidence before production. Cambridge China Bridge sources aluminium beverage cans.
UK duty on empty aluminium beverage cans
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 24 October 2026, heading 7612 covers aluminium containers of a capacity not exceeding 300 litres, without mechanical or thermal equipment. Ordinary empty beverage cans fall within the other-containers line, 7612 90 80 00. The table shows purchasing variants of that same line. See the wider aluminium containers guide.
The supplied tariff data shows 6% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension recorded. It also attaches an import control of fluorinated greenhouse gases. The importer should confirm the requirement for empty beverage cans with their customs broker. Official guidance requires imported products containing regulated fluorinated gas to be labelled; this does not establish the declaration requirement for ordinary empty beverage cans.
Confirm the commodity code using the actual construction and whether the shipment contains empty cans, separate ends or filled drinks. Do not apply the empty-can code to the whole purchase without checking its contents.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empty aluminium beverage cans, unprinted | 7612 90 80 00 | 6% | None |
Can bodies, ends and drink-compatible lacquer
Specify capacity, body diameter and height, neck profile, flange dimensions, wall thickness, alloy and internal lacquer. Identify the matching end and opening style, and agree whether ends are included. Give the factory the drink formulation, carbonation, filling temperature, heat treatment and storage conditions.
Confirm the applicable food-contact requirements for the cans and internal lacquer with the relevant food safety authority, including any declaration needed for the intended contents. Ask for the manufacturer's declaration and migration reports relevant to the drink and intended use. Approve filling and seaming trials with the chosen ends before releasing production.
Confirm with the relevant environmental authority whether packaging supplied into the UK creates obligations for your business under packaging EPR. Confirm with HMRC or your customs broker whether and when the actual goods fall within the aluminium-sector carbon border adjustment mechanism described in the UK CBAM guide.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 30,000 empty aluminium beverage cans under 7612 90 80 00, invoiced at £3,000 free on board, with £3,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £6,000. Duty at 6% is £360. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £6,360, so it is £1,272. Import taxes total £1,632; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £360 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Dimensions: measure body, neck and flange against the approved drawing; check end fit and run samples through the buyer's seaming equipment.
Lacquer: check coating continuity and adhesion, review the agreed porosity results, and compare filled storage samples for corrosion, odour and flavour changes.
Strength and seals: check dents, pinholes and flange damage; test filled, seamed samples for leakage and pressure performance against the agreed specification.
Print and packing: compare colour and registration with the approved proof; check batch identification, pallet stability, protective layers and cleanliness inside the cans on arrival.
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What goes wrong
A can can match the advertised capacity yet fail on the filling line because its neck, flange or matching end differs from the approved sample. Flange dents during transport can cause leaking seams. Agree the can-and-end combination with the filler and inspect arrival damage before feeding stock into production.
An unsuitable or damaged lacquer can expose aluminium to the drink, causing corrosion or flavour changes. A generic food-contact report does not demonstrate compatibility with the buyer's formulation and process. Match the evidence to the supplied coating and confirm performance using filled storage samples.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For repeat volumes, see container programmes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on aluminium beverage cans from China?
The supplied tariff data shows 6% for empty cans under 7612 90 80 00, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension recorded.
What food-contact documents should I ask for?
Ask for the alloy and lacquer specification, the manufacturer's declaration and migration reports relevant to the drink, filling process and storage conditions.
Will Chinese aluminium cans fit my filling line?
Check the body, neck, flange and matching end against your filler’s drawings. Run filling and seaming trials with production-representative samples before approving the order.
Does the fluorinated-gas tariff control apply to empty drink cans?
The supplied tariff attaches that control. Ask your customs broker to confirm the applicable declaration requirement for the actual empty cans; do not assume an exemption.