Sourcing cider from China
Cider from China carries UK customs duty of £4.80 to £16.00 per hectolitre, depending on whether it is still or sparkling and its container size. Alcohol Duty is separate; confirm alcoholic-strength labelling requirements for drinks over 1.2% alcohol with the relevant food labelling authority. Cambridge China Bridge sources cider.
Cider customs duty is charged by volume
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, heading 2206 covers other fermented beverages and certain beverage mixtures. Its cider and perry lines charge Chinese-origin sparkling cider £16.00 per hectolitre, still cider in containers holding 2 litres or less £6.40 per hectolitre, and still cider in larger containers £4.80 per hectolitre. These are specific duties, so none supports a percentage-duty worked example.
The supplied cider lines show no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. They attach import control of organic products. For cider labelled organic, confirm any inspection certificate requirements for release as organic with your customs broker and approved UK organic control body for the Chinese shipment. Alcohol Duty is charged separately on imported alcoholic products.
Give your broker the recipe, alcoholic strength, carbonation details, closure type and container capacity to confirm the commodity code. Other products within this heading are covered in the fermented drinks guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sparkling cider in bottles | 2206 00 31 00 | £16.00 per hl | None |
| Still cider in containers holding 2 litres or less | 2206 00 51 00 | £6.40 per hl | None |
| Still cider in containers holding more than 2 litres | 2206 00 81 00 | £4.80 per hl | None |
Specify the apple base, strength and packaging
Specify apple juice or concentrate, the complete recipe, alcoholic strength and tolerance, sweetness, acidity, carbonation, filtration or heat treatment, and the intended storage conditions. Agree bottle or can material, closure, fill quantity, case packing and the remaining shelf life required on arrival. Approve a tasting sample and retain it for comparison with production.
For Alcohol Duty classification, HMRC requires at least 35% apple or pear juice in the mixture before fermentation. Ask for the production recipe rather than relying on the product name. Confirm with the relevant food labelling authority the requirements for showing alcoholic strength above 1.2%, the product name, net quantity, allergens and a UK business name and address. UK-established alcohol wholesalers should confirm with HMRC whether approval is required or an exclusion applies.
Inspection checklist
Liquid: compare flavour, colour, sweetness, acidity and sediment with the approved sample; investigate unexpected haze or signs of renewed fermentation.
Laboratory: check alcoholic strength against the label and specification, and review sulphite and microbiological results against the agreed product specification.
Packaging: inspect can seams, bottle closures, leakage, fill quantity, corrosion and crushed cases; check that carbonation matches the specification.
Labels and records: compare the approved artwork, batch identification, storage instructions and shelf-life information with delivered stock. Match the analysis report and any organic inspection certificate to the shipment.
What goes wrong
Problems to watch for include a sweeter or weaker production batch than the sample, unexpected fermentation, leaking closures and damaged cans. Ask the factory to explain its stabilisation process and validate the intended storage conditions before shipping.
A cider name alone does not settle the tax planning. Missing recipe information, a different container size or overlooked Alcohol Duty can undermine the landed-cost calculation. Review the documents before dispatch and use the inspection guide to set the acceptance checks.
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 cider from China?
Sparkling cider: £16.00 per hectolitre. Still cider: £6.40 per hectolitre in containers holding 2 litres or less, or £4.80 in larger containers. Alcohol Duty is separate.
Does imported cider also pay Alcohol Duty?
Yes. Alcohol Duty applies separately to imported alcoholic products. Give your broker the complete recipe and alcoholic strength to confirm the applicable treatment.
Can I import organic cider from China?
Confirm whether organic cider needs an inspection certificate for release as organic. Check the Chinese shipment requirements with your customs broker and approved UK organic control body before ordering.
Is cider customs duty a percentage of its price?
No. The supplied cider lines charge customs duty per hectolitre. A percentage-based worked example would not describe these duties.