Sourcing candied pineapple from China
Candied pineapple from China carries UK duty of 12%, rising to 12% plus £12 per 100 kg when sugar exceeds 13% by weight. Confirm the preservation process and measured sugar content, and match permitted additives and allergen labels to the recipe. Cambridge China Bridge sources candied pineapple.
Pineapple duty depends on sugar content
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 2006 covers plant products preserved by sugar, whether drained, glacé or crystallised. Pineapple falls within tropical fruit: 2006 00 35 00 carries 12% plus £12 per 100 kg when sugar exceeds 13% by weight; 2006 00 91 00 carries 12% otherwise. Dice and slices share these codes. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension for these lines.
The tariff attaches an import control of organic products. For organic pineapple from China into Great Britain, arrange an endorsed certificate of inspection before release into free circulation. The importing company must be based and certified in the UK. Ask your organic control body to confirm exporter approval and your customs broker to confirm the border arrangements.
Confirm the commodity code using the processing method, formulation and sugar test report. Sugar-infused dried pineapple and pineapple in syrup may fall under heading 2008 instead. The wider candied fruit and ginger guide explains the other products within this heading.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Candied pineapple dice, sugar over 13% by weight | 2006 00 35 00 | 12% + £12.00 per 100 kg | None |
| Sugar-preserved pineapple dice, sugar 13% or less by weight | 2006 00 91 00 | 12% | None |
Specify pineapple flesh, cut and sugar coating
Specify dice or slices, piece dimensions and tolerances, removal of skin, eyes and hard core, acceptable broken pieces, colour and chew. Choose a glacé finish or crystallised coating and agree how much loose sugar and clumping you will accept. Approve a sample for the intended baking or confectionery use.
Fix total sugar content, moisture, water activity, sulphite residue, colours, preservatives, microbiological limits, pack size and shelf life in writing. Additives must be permitted for the food category; approval in China does not establish approval in Great Britain. Confirm sulphite allergen-declaration requirements with the relevant food authority. Also confirm applicable retail-pack labelling requirements, including the food name, ingredients, allergens, net quantity, date mark, storage conditions and business name and address.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 5 tonnes of sugar-preserved pineapple dice, confirmed within this heading, with sugar content of 13% or less by weight under 2006 00 91 00, invoiced at £15,000 free on board, with £1,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £16,200. Duty at 12% is £1,944. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £18,144, so it is £3,628.80. Import taxes total £5,572.80; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,944 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step. This assumes the goods are standard-rated for VAT. Most food for human consumption is zero-rated, and animal feed can be too, in which case no import VAT is due, so check the rate for your product in HMRC's VAT Notice 701/14.
Inspection checklist
Fruit: compare cut size, colour, chew, hard core, remaining eyes and broken pieces with the approved sample.
Laboratory: check batch sugar content, moisture, water activity, sulphite residue, colours, yeasts and moulds against the agreed specification.
Packaging: check seals, leaks, loose sugar, clumping and signs of moisture inside the packs.
Labels: match ingredients and allergen emphasis to the recipe and test results; check date marks and storage instructions. Plan the checks through the quality inspection guide.
Working out your own order? Send us the product on WhatsApp and we reply the same working day: WhatsApp us
What goes wrong
Pineapple can arrive with tough core pieces, uneven cuts, excessive loose sugar or sticky clumps. Excess moisture can lead to fermentation or mould. Treat these as acceptance points in the purchase specification, then compare arrival samples with the approved sample and batch results.
A changed recipe can move sugar content across 13% and change the duty line. Undeclared sulphites or substituted colours can also leave the label inconsistent with the product. Agree formulation changes before production, test each lot and approve the label against the final recipe.
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 candied pineapple from China?
Within heading 2006, pineapple with sugar over 13% by weight carries 12% plus £12 per 100 kg. At 13% or less, it carries 12%. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty.
Do sulphites in candied pineapple need an allergen label?
Confirm sulphite allergen-declaration and ingredient-list emphasis requirements with the relevant food authority. Check the batch result against the formulation.
What paperwork does organic candied pineapple need?
For imports into Great Britain, arrange an endorsed certificate of inspection before release. The importing company must be based and certified in the UK. Confirm exporter approval and border arrangements before shipment.
Is sweetened dried pineapple classified as candied pineapple?
Not automatically. Sugar-infused dried fruit may fall under heading 2008. Confirm the preservation process and formulation rather than relying on the supplier's product name.