Sourcing clay-coated kraftliner from China
Clay-coated kraftliner from China carries 0% UK duty across the relevant lines of heading 4810, with no trade remedies recorded. Confirm with the relevant authority whether timber due diligence applies when first placing virgin wood-fibre board on the Great Britain market. Cambridge China Bridge sources clay-coated kraftliner.
Duty on clay-coated kraftliner
Heading 4810 covers paper and board coated with kaolin or other inorganic substances, with or without a binder, and with no other coating, in rolls or rectangular sheets. This guide focuses on clay-coated kraftliner bought as the printable facing for corrugated packaging. See the wider coated paper and board guide for other products within the heading.
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, all the selected lines carried 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff records show no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspensions or attached import controls for these lines. Import VAT is normally 20%; zero customs duty does not remove import VAT.
The table lists classification candidates, rather than interchangeable codes. Check other coated kraft against 4810 39 00 00 and qualifying uniformly bleached kaolin-coated kraft against 4810 32 10 00. The multi-ply lines apply within the tariff's other-paper-and-board branch; layering alone does not establish classification there. Obtain the fibre composition, bleaching of each layer, grammage and coating details, then confirm the commodity code.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other coated kraft paper and board | 4810 39 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Kaolin-coated kraft, uniformly bleached, over 150 g/m², chemical wood fibre >95% | 4810 32 10 00 | 0% | None |
| Other multi-ply coated board, only one outer layer bleached | 4810 92 30 00 | 0% | None |
| Other multi-ply coated board, other bleaching arrangements | 4810 92 90 00 | 0% | None |
Specify the facing, fibre and converting performance
Agree the base kraft grade, virgin and recycled fibre mix, layer construction, coated face and coating composition. Specify grammage, caliper, moisture, shade, surface strength, water absorption and compression performance with contractual tolerances. Match reel width, diameter, core size, winding direction and splice marking to the converter's equipment. Approve a print and corrugating trial using the intended inks and adhesive.
The UK Timber Regulations cover a broad range of timber products, including pulp and paper. Ask the relevant authority to confirm how the rules apply to the proposed board, including any due-diligence obligations for the importer first placing it on the Great Britain market, the treatment of recycled and mixed fibre, and the species and country-of-harvest information needed. Obtain the mill's fibre-source records before ordering.
For food packaging, confirm the applicable food-contact requirements with the relevant authority. Ask for evidence covering the actual grade and intended food use, including migration testing and, where recycled fibre is present, mineral oil residue checks. Agree the evidence with the converter before approving the grade.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 60 tonnes of clay-coated kraftliner in reels under 4810 39 00 00, invoiced at £48,000 free on board, with £5,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £53,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £53,000, so it is £10,600. With no duty, the only import tax is the VAT, which a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Material: compare batch identification and mill certificates with the approved fibre mix, layer construction and coating specification. Test grammage, caliper and moisture on conditioned samples from several reels, including across the reel width.
Coated face: compare shade and print appearance with the approved sample. Check surface picking, dusting and coating adhesion during a print trial, and inspect scored and folded samples for cracking.
Conversion: compare short-span compression, burst strength and water absorption with the agreed values. Run the liner with the intended fluting and adhesive, checking bonding, flatness and the finished board's condition.
Reels on arrival: inspect wrapping, reel ends, edges and cores for wetting or damage. Measure width, diameter and core size, check winding and marked splices, and record defects before conversion. Use the inspection guide to define the inspection brief.
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What goes wrong
A matching white face can hide a different base sheet or fibre mix. Weak liner strength reduces box performance, while a weak coating picks during printing or cracks at folds. Uneven moisture across the reel causes curl and warped corrugated board. Damaged edges, crushed cores and unmarked splices interrupt conversion.
Keep an approved sample and retain batch samples. Compare each lot's mill certificate with the purchase specification, repeat the print and bonding trial when the grade changes, and photograph reel damage on arrival. Separate suspect reels while the supplier and converter assess them.
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 clay-coated kraftliner from China?
The relevant heading 4810 lines in the supplied tariff record carry 0% duty for goods from China, with no recorded anti-dumping or countervailing duty. Import VAT is normally 20%.
Which commodity code should I use for clay-coated kraftliner?
Check the fibre mix, bleaching, grammage, layers and coating. Compare other coated kraft with 4810 39 00 00. Uniformly bleached kraft and other multi-ply board have separate branches; the trade name alone is insufficient.
Do timber due diligence rules apply to coated kraftliner?
Confirm with the relevant authority whether timber due diligence applies to virgin wood-fibre board first placed on the Great Britain market. Ask what origin information the importer needs and how recycled products and mixed-fibre products are treated.
What should I test before buying clay-coated kraftliner?
Check grammage, caliper, moisture, compression, burst and water absorption. Trial printing, corrugating and bonding with the intended inks, fluting and adhesive, then compare the results with the agreed specification.