Sourcing ceramic bakeware from China
Ceramic bakeware from China under heading 6912 carries basic UK duty of 4% to 8%, plus anti-dumping duty with a residual rate of 36.10%. Confirm lead and cadmium migration requirements, written declaration requirements and supporting documentation requirements for food-contact use with the relevant authority. Cambridge China Bridge sources ceramic bakeware.
Duty on ceramic bakeware
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, heading 6912 covers ceramic tableware, kitchenware and other household or toilet articles, excluding porcelain or china. For bakeware, distinguish common pottery, stoneware, earthenware or fine pottery, and other ceramic bodies. The selected lines cover baking dishes and ramekins rather than the separately excluded cordierite pizza stones.
Basic duty for goods from China is 4% for common pottery and stoneware, 8% for earthenware or fine pottery, and 6% for other ceramics. Every selected line carries residual anti-dumping duty of 36.10%; check the exporter's applicable rate before ordering. These lines show no suspension or countervailing duty.
The tariff also attaches import and export waste controls and a cultural-object export licence measure. Waste shipment controls apply only where the material is waste. For goods from China, ask your customs broker to confirm any waste requirement; also confirm export measures before re-exporting. Confirm the commodity code, and see stoneware dinnerware for the wider heading.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hand-made common pottery baking dishes | 6912 00 21 11 | 4% | 36.10% residual anti-dumping |
| Other common pottery baking dishes | 6912 00 21 91 | 4% | 36.10% residual anti-dumping |
| Stoneware baking dishes and ramekins | 6912 00 23 10 | 4% | 36.10% residual anti-dumping |
| Earthenware or fine pottery bakeware | 6912 00 25 10 | 8% | 36.10% residual anti-dumping |
| Bakeware of other non-porcelain ceramics | 6912 00 29 10 | 6% | 36.10% residual anti-dumping |
Specify the ceramic body and oven use
Specify the ceramic body, dish dimensions, usable capacity, wall thickness, rim profile, handle clearance, lid fit and glaze colour. Agree the intended oven use, maximum claimed temperature, heating and cooling instructions, and whether dishwasher, microwave or freezer use is claimed. Have samples tested against those claims before approving production.
Confirm with the relevant authority the lead and cadmium migration limits and any written declaration of compliance and supporting test documentation required for ceramic food-contact articles. Request evidence matching the actual body, glaze and decoration supplied. Agree which variants the laboratory will assess, including coloured interiors and decorated rims. Arrange testing and certification before approving the range.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 2,000 stoneware ramekins under 6912 00 23 10, invoiced at £7,000 free on board, with £600 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £7,600. Duty at 4% is £304. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £7,904, so it is £1,580.80. Import taxes total £1,884.80; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £304 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Body and glaze: check for cracks, crazing, pinholes, sharp rims, exposed rough areas and glaze pooling; compare colour with the approved sample.
Shape and fit: measure dimensions and capacity, check that bases sit flat, lids fit and handles allow a secure grip.
Use claims: review oven and thermal-shock results against the agreed instructions; check that care information matches the tested uses.
Packing and records: check dividers, rim and handle protection, batch identification, declarations and matching test reports. Use the quality inspection guide to agree shipment checks.
What goes wrong
A serving dish can look like ovenware without having suitable thermal performance. Glaze crazing, hidden body cracks and weak handles may appear after heating or cooling. Warped bases, poor lid fit and colour variation also make a range difficult to sell consistently.
Food-contact evidence for a different glaze or decoration leaves the supplied range unverified. Keep an approved sample, agree how material changes are reported, and inspect production samples before shipping. Transit damage often starts at rims and handles, so assess the packed product as well as the loose dish.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on ceramic bakeware from China?
Under heading 6912, basic duty is 4% for common pottery and stoneware, 8% for earthenware or fine pottery, and 6% for other ceramics. Selected bakeware lines also carry residual anti-dumping duty of 36.10%.
What food-contact documents should I request?
Request a written declaration of compliance and supporting lead and cadmium migration documentation matching the supplied ceramic body, glaze and decoration.
Does food-contact testing prove a dish is oven-safe?
Assess oven use separately. Agree the claimed temperature, heating and cooling instructions, then test samples against those conditions.
What should I check when ceramic bakeware arrives?
Check cracks, glaze crazing, flat bases, lid fit, handles and packing damage. Match batch records and food-contact documents to the delivered range.