Sourcing aluminium camping mess tins from China

Duty on aluminium camping mess tins

Heading 7615 covers aluminium table, kitchen and household articles as well as other goods outside this guide. Pressed aluminium mess tins are candidates for 7615 10 80 90; cast versions are candidates for 7615 10 10 90. The table distinguishes tins and lids sharing these lines rather than suggesting separate tariff codes for each design.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, the relevant lines carried 6% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control for these lines. Food contact obligations still apply.

Confirm the manufacturing method and the classification of the complete set with your customs broker using finding your commodity code. For the wider heading, see aluminium cookware.

Specify the tin, nesting fit and folding handle

Specify the aluminium alloy, wall and base thickness, usable capacity, rim shape and packed dimensions. Identify whether the lid is also intended as a cooking vessel. Approve the full nested set with handles folded, including any strap or pouch, so the packed assembly matches the sample.

State the intended heat source and whether the finish is bare aluminium, anodised or coated. Confirm the applicable requirements on constituent transfer from food contact surfaces with the relevant authority. Ask for finished-product migration evidence covering the intended use; for coated versions, request the coating supplier and its declaration of compliance. See food contact documentation.

Agree how handles lock open, how rivets are fixed and which surfaces the user grips. Ask for written notice of material or coating changes and retain the evidence with each batch.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 2,000 pressed aluminium camping mess tin sets; values are illustrative, not a quotation. under 7615 10 80 90, invoiced at £7,000 free on board, with £600 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £7,600. Duty at 6% is £456. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £8,056, so it is £1,611.20. Import taxes total £2,067.20; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £456 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Body and rim: measure wall and base thickness against the specification; check for sharp edges, cracks, dents and rocking on a flat surface.

Handles: open and fold them repeatedly, check clearance around the rim, and test fixings and heat behaviour under the agreed cooking conditions.

Nesting and lids: assemble the complete set, check that lids seat correctly and confirm folded handles do not jam or scrape food contact surfaces.

Finish and packing: compare with the approved sample, check for coating damage and forming residues, and confirm protective packing keeps nested pieces apart. Use quality inspection to agree shipment checks.

What goes wrong

Thin bases can distort when heated, leaving the tin unstable. Loose handle rivets make lifting a filled tin uncertain, while tight nesting can trap pieces or scratch their finish. Test the complete assembly under its intended cooking conditions before approving production.

A report for a different coating or tin does not establish the suitability of the ordered product. Match the evidence to the alloy, finish and intended use, and repeat the physical checks on arrival before releasing stock.

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. For other camping equipment, see our guide to sourcing camping hammocks.