Beeswax and vegetable waxes from China
Vegetable waxes, beeswax and other insect waxes and spermaceti from China, raw or refined and whether or not coloured, pay 0% UK duty on all 4 lines of heading 1521, with no anti-dumping duty. Beeswax is often adulterated with paraffin, so buyers for candles, cosmetics and food coatings test melting point, acid and ester values and purity.
Raw and refined beeswax, insect waxes and vegetable waxes from China pay 0% UK duty. Adulteration, colour and melting point checks for candle and cosmetic use.
0% duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 27 September 2026, heading 1521 covers vegetable waxes (other than triglycerides), beeswax, other insect waxes and spermaceti, whether or not refined or coloured. All 4 lines carried 0% on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure: vegetable waxes, spermaceti, raw beeswax and other insect waxes, and other (refined).
Paraffin wax is covered in our paraffin wax guide and prepared waxes in our artificial and prepared waxes guide; finished candles are in our candles guide. Confirm the commodity code.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vegetable waxes | 1521 10 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Spermaceti | 1521 90 10 00 | 0% | None |
| Beeswax and other insect waxes, raw | 1521 90 91 00 | 0% | None |
| Beeswax and other insect waxes, other (refined) | 1521 90 99 00 | 0% | None |
Rules by end use
Wax sold for cosmetics or food use must meet the rules for that use, so ask for the specification the supplier certifies against and test purity. Wax as a substance falls under UK REACH, and consumer products made from it must be safe under the General Product Safety Regulations 2005.
Specifying wax
Specify type (yellow or white beeswax, or a named vegetable wax), form (slabs, pellets, flakes), melting point range, acid and ester values, colour, odour, purity and absence of paraffin or other adulterants, and packing.
Worked duty example
Suppose, purely for illustration, you import 5 tonnes of refined yellow beeswax pellets under 1521 90 99 00. At £31,000 free on board and £900 to ship and insure, the customs value is £31,900. With 0% duty on refined beeswax, the only charge is import VAT: 20% of £31,900, or £6,380. VAT-registered businesses usually recover that in their next return. The method is set out in how UK import duty and VAT work.
Inspection checklist
Purity: test melting point, acid and ester values against the specification, and screen for paraffin and other adulterants.
Appearance: check colour, odour, foreign matter and form.
Packing: check bags or cartons, lot marking and net weight.
What goes wrong
Wax orders fail on adulteration and variation. Beeswax is cut with paraffin or stearin, colour and odour vary between lots, and melting points drift so candles and balms do not set as expected.
Test purity before shipping. See our quality inspection guide.
Cambridge China Bridge sources beeswax and vegetable waxes for UK candle, cosmetic and craft brands, including first orders. See small orders.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on beeswax from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 27 September 2026, beeswax under 1521 90 91 00 (raw) and 1521 90 99 00 (refined) carried 0% from China.
How is beeswax adulterated?
Usually with paraffin or stearin, so test melting point and acid and ester values.
Is paraffin wax in heading 1521?
No. Paraffin wax is heading 2712.
Does wax need REACH checks?
Yes. Wax is a substance under UK REACH.