Sourcing bamboo and recycled pulp from China
Pulps of fibres other than wood from China, including bamboo pulp, pulp from recovered paper, cotton linters pulp and pulps of straw or bagasse, pay 0% UK duty on all six lines of heading 4706, with no anti-dumping duty. Bamboo-based and recovered products are excluded from the UK Timber Regulations. Buyers check the fibre source, brightness, freeness, contaminants and moisture.
0% duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 28 September 2026, heading 4706 covers pulps of fibres derived from recovered paper or paperboard or of other fibrous cellulosic material, split into cotton linters pulp, recovered-paper pulp, bamboo pulp, and other pulps made mechanically, chemically or by a combination. All six lines carried 0% on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure.
The UK Timber Regulations cover pulp of chapter 47 but exclude bamboo-based and recovered products. For other pulps, ask the supplier to confirm the fibre in writing; any wood fibre in the blend brings due diligence on the species and country of harvest. Wood pulps are other headings; confirm the commodity code. Raw linters are covered in our cotton linters guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cotton linters pulp | 4706 10 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Pulp of fibres from recovered paper or paperboard | 4706 20 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Other pulp, of bamboo | 4706 30 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Other pulp, mechanical | 4706 91 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Other pulp, chemical | 4706 92 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Other pulp, mechanical and chemical combined | 4706 93 00 00 | 0% | None |
Specifying non-wood pulp
Specify the fibre (bamboo species, recovered paper grade, linters, straw or bagasse), process, brightness, freeness, fibre length, ash, contaminants such as plastics and stickies for recovered pulp, moisture, and sheet or bale form. For pulp going into food-contact paper or moulded tableware, ask for the supplier's evidence that the finished product will meet the food-contact rules.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 100 air-dry tonnes of bleached bamboo pulp under 4706 30 00 00, invoiced at £70,000 free on board, with £5,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £75,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £75,000, so it is £15,000. With no duty, the only import tax is the VAT, which a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Analysis: check brightness, freeness and ash on samples.
Contamination: check recovered pulp for plastics and stickies.
Documents: check fibre source declarations and mill test data. See our quality inspection guide.
What goes wrong
Non-wood pulp orders fail on fibre claims and contamination. Bamboo pulp is blended with wood pulp without saying so, recovered pulp carries plastics, and moisture is higher than invoiced.
Cambridge China Bridge sources materials for UK manufacturers with documents agreed before shipment. See factory verification.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on bamboo pulp from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 28 September 2026, bamboo pulp under 4706 30 00 00 carried 0% from China.
Does bamboo pulp fall under the UK Timber Regulations?
No. Bamboo-based and recovered products are excluded, but any wood fibre in a blend brings due diligence.
Which code covers pulp from recovered paper?
4706 20 00 00, at 0% from China.
What should I check on recovered pulp?
Plastics, stickies, ash, brightness and moisture.