Sourcing Chinagraph Pencils from China
Chinagraph pencils with encased wax cores fall within the non-graphite pencil line carrying 2% UK duty from China; the wider heading ranges from 0% to 2%. Products intended or likely to be used by consumers must be safe in normal or reasonably foreseeable use. Cambridge China Bridge sources chinagraph pencils.
2% duty on encased wax-core pencils
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 9609 covers pencils, crayons, pencil leads, pastels, drawing charcoals and writing, drawing and tailors' chalks. Chinagraph pencils with wax cores encased in paper or wood fit the description of non-graphite pencils under 9609 10 90 00. The table shows product variants within this same tariff line.
The supplied tariff data records 2% duty for this line on goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measure, suspension or attached import control. The wider heading ranges from 0% to 2%. These tariff findings do not replace product-safety checks.
Confirm the commodity code using the core material, casing and intended use rather than the supplier's product name alone. See the pencils, crayons and paint sets guide for the wider heading.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper-wrapped chinagraph pencils with black wax cores | 9609 10 90 00 | 2% | None |
Specify the wax core and marking surface
State whether the pencil is paper-wrapped with a peel string or wood-cased for sharpening. Agree core colour, hardness, diameter, exposed tip, barrel printing and packaging. Supply samples of the actual glass, glazed ceramic, metal or plastic that buyers will mark, and approve the line appearance on those surfaces.
Specify whether the mark must resist handling or wipe away, and agree the cleaning method. Test both marking and removal on the customer's surface before approving claims. Include warm-storage behaviour and colour transfer to hands or neighbouring pencils in the sample review.
For products intended or likely to be used by consumers in Great Britain, general product safety regulations require safety in normal or reasonably foreseeable use. Review accessible wax, pigments, coatings, splinters and exposed points alongside marking performance.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of 2,000 chinagraph pencils; illustrative FOB and freight values under 9609 10 90 00, invoiced at £2,500 free on board, with £540 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £3,040. Duty at 2% is £60.80. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £3,100.80, so it is £620.16. Import taxes total £680.96; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £60.80 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Marking: draw on the agreed surface samples and compare visibility, line continuity, smearing and removal with the approved pencil.
Core and casing: inspect for cracked or loose cores, then peel paper or sharpen wood to check that the tip remains usable.
Peel string: check that the string is accessible and strips the wrapper cleanly without tearing away excessive paper or breaking the core.
Packing and arrival: check colour assortment, printing and carton identification; inspect for softened wax, crushed tips and transferred colour. Use the quality inspection guide to agree the checks.
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What goes wrong
A pencil can mark the factory's test sheet but leave a faint or broken line on the buyer's glossy surface. A softer replacement wax may smear during handling, while a harder core may skid. Removal claims can also fail when colour remains in textured plastic or a cleaning method damages the surface.
Paper wrappers can unravel, peel strings can snap and cores can fracture inside an apparently intact casing. Keep an approved sample of each colour and casing, and compare production and arrival samples using the same marking, peeling and cleaning methods.
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 chinagraph pencils from China?
The supplied tariff data records 2% for encased non-graphite pencils under 9609 10 90 00, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measure.
Should I buy paper-wrapped or wood-cased chinagraph pencils?
Choose paper wrapping if users need a peelable tip, or wood casing if they prefer sharpening. Compare core breakage and ease of exposing a usable tip before approving either version.
Will chinagraph marks wipe off glass and plastic?
Test the exact surface and agreed cleaning method. Approve both the visible mark and its removal; results on glass do not establish performance on textured or coated plastic.
What safety rule applies to consumer chinagraph pencils?
In Great Britain, products intended or likely to be used by consumers fall within general product safety rules and must be safe in normal or reasonably foreseeable use.