Sourcing ceramic money boxes from China
Ceramic money boxes from China within heading 6913 carry UK duty of 2% to 6%, depending on the ceramic body, with no listed anti-dumping duty. Consumer products must be safe; assess toy rules if the design or marketing invites play. Cambridge China Bridge sources ceramic money boxes.
Ceramic money box duty and controls
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 19 October 2026, heading 6913 covers statuettes and other ornamental ceramic articles. For ornamental ceramic money boxes from China, common pottery carries 2% duty; porcelain or china, earthenware or fine pottery and other ceramics carry 6%. The supplied tariff lines show no anti-dumping or countervailing duties and no suspensions.
The tariff attaches cat and dog fur and waste import controls. Products containing cat or dog fur are banned from import, including any such trim. For waste subject to notification controls, the exporter in China must apply to its competent authority for consent. If buying discarded or waste goods, confirm the applicable import requirements with your customs broker. The record also lists waste and fur export controls and a cultural-object export licence measure.
Confirm the body material, manufacturing method and ornamental character through finding your commodity code. These are material-based lines, not dedicated money-box codes. See the ceramic ornaments and figurines guide for the wider heading.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hand-made porcelain or china money boxes | 6913 10 00 10 | 6% | None |
| Other porcelain or china money boxes | 6913 10 00 90 | 6% | None |
| Other common pottery money boxes | 6913 90 10 90 | 2% | None |
| Other earthenware or fine pottery money boxes | 6913 90 93 90 | 6% | None |
| Other ceramic money boxes, such as stoneware | 6913 90 98 90 | 6% | None |
Specify the coin slot and retrieval method
Specify the ceramic body, overall dimensions, wall thickness, coin-slot opening, base opening and plug material. Decide whether money is retrieved through a removable plug or by breaking the body. Approve a physical sample with the coins buyers are expected to use, checking that coins enter freely and can be retrieved as intended.
Agree glaze colour, decoration placement, personalised lettering, base pads and individual cushioning. Money boxes sold to consumers in Great Britain must be safe under the General Product Safety Regulations 2005. Assess whether toy rules apply if the shape or marketing invites children to play; a decorative label alone does not settle that question.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of 1,000 porcelain money boxes under 6913 10 00 90, invoiced at £16,000 free on board, with £1,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £17,500. Duty at 6% is £1,050. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £18,550, so it is £3,710. Import taxes total £4,760; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,050 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Slot and retrieval: check coins pass through without snagging, the slot has no sharp edges, and the removable plug fits securely and can be operated as agreed.
Body and base: inspect for cracks, chipped openings and thin areas; check the money box stands without rocking and base pads protect furniture.
Glaze and decoration: compare against the approved sample for pinholes, crazing, bare patches, decal position and personalised spelling.
Packing: check cushioning around projecting ears and snouts, separation between pieces, plug inclusion and carton labels; inspect pieces again after the agreed carton drop test.
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What goes wrong
Glaze can narrow the coin slot, plugs can become loose when the base opening varies, and coins can be difficult to retrieve through a poorly positioned opening. Projecting features and the slot edges are vulnerable to transit chips. Approve the finished glazed sample rather than relying only on an unglazed body.
Treat cracking, sharp chipped edges and loose parts as issues to resolve before release. Ask for photographs of the actual packing arrangement and compare arrival samples with the approved sample. Use the quality inspection guide to prepare the inspection brief.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For own-brand ranges, see sourcing for brands.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on ceramic money boxes from China?
Within heading 6913, common pottery carries 2%; porcelain or china, earthenware or fine pottery and other ceramics carry 6%. The supplied tariff lines list no anti-dumping or countervailing duty.
Are ceramic piggy banks automatically toys?
Assess the design and how they are marketed. A money box that invites children to play may fall under toy rules; describing it as decorative alone does not remove applicable obligations.
How do I check the removable plug?
Test the finished glazed sample. Check that the plug stays in place with coins inside, can be removed as intended and fits consistently across sampled pieces.
What should I check when money boxes arrive?
Check cracks, slot-edge chips, projecting features, plug fit, rocking bases and decoration errors. Test coin insertion and retrieval, and compare cushioning with the approved packing sample.