Sourcing Beeswax Candles from China

Zero duty on finished beeswax candles

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 3406 covers candles, tapers and the like. Finished beeswax candles fall within this heading. The table shows different candle forms sharing the same commodity line, rather than separate tariff subdivisions.

Goods from China carry 0% duty. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or import control. Separately, APHA guidance for beeswax requires a commercial document attesting to refinement or processing. Ask APHA and your customs broker whether that guidance applies to your finished candles before shipment; the absence of a listed tariff control does not resolve that question.

Give your broker the finished product description, composition and photographs to confirm the commodity code. Raw beeswax is a separate classification question. See the wider candle guide for other wax types. Zero duty does not remove import VAT; budget for 20% and consult UK import duty and VAT.

Specify the beeswax and wick together

State whether the candle uses pure beeswax or a blend, and record the proportions and permitted additives. Specify rolled, moulded or container construction, dimensions, weight, wick material and the intended holder. Approve a colour and odour reference, and agree acceptable variation rather than relying on photographs.

Ask for wax supplier records linked to production batches and retain raw wax and finished samples. Colour and scent alone cannot establish composition. Where a purity claim matters, agree independent laboratory checks through testing and certification.

Candles sold in Great Britain must be safe. Obtain burn test reports for the actual wax, wick, size and container combination, and approve safety warnings before printing. A report for a different wax recipe or wick does not establish the performance of the goods ordered. For emergency candles, see our emergency candle sourcing guide.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative stock order of boxed beeswax candles for an independent retailer under 3406 00 00 00, invoiced at £30,000 free on board, with £2,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £32,200. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £32,200, so it is £6,440. 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

Composition: match wax purchasing records and batch records to the agreed recipe; investigate substitutions before accepting a purity claim.

Construction: check wick centring, taper straightness, pillar bases and rolled seams against the approved sample.

Burn performance: test production samples for excessive flame, soot, uneven melting and dripping in the intended holder; record results during quality inspection.

Arrival condition: check for bent tapers, cracked pillars, loose rolls, shifted wicks and damaged jars; compare labels and protective packing with the approved arrangement.

What goes wrong

A supplier can change the wax blend or wick while keeping the same appearance. That can change burning performance and leave a beeswax-content claim unsupported. Tie the approved recipe to batch records, retain samples and investigate discrepancies before releasing stock.

Poor wick selection can produce soot, uneven melting or excessive dripping. Heat during transport can soften candles and shift their shape or wick. Trial the complete shipping pack, agree acceptable appearance and damage, and repeat burn checks whenever the agreed formulation or construction changes.

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.