Sourcing coffee beans from China
Green coffee beans from China, mostly arabica from Yunnan, pay 0% UK duty, roasted coffee 6% and decaffeinated roasted coffee 8%, with no anti-dumping duty, and coffee is zero-rated for VAT. Lots are graded by defects, moisture and screen size, and roasted coffee must meet ochratoxin A limits. Cambridge China Bridge sources coffee.
Green and roasted coffee from Yunnan: UK duty of 0% on green beans and 6% roasted, zero-rated VAT, grading, ochratoxin and acrylamide, with an example.
Rates by processing
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 26 September 2026, green coffee that is not decaffeinated (0901 11 00 00) carried 0% on goods from China, decaffeinated green coffee 8%, roasted coffee 6% and decaffeinated roasted coffee 8%. None had an anti-dumping measure, and no suspension applied. Organic coffee also needs an electronic certificate of inspection for the organic import control shown on the tariff.
Instant coffee, extracts and coffee pods are in heading 2101, not 0901. Tea is covered in our tea guide, and cups for coffee shops in our paper coffee cups guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green coffee, not decaffeinated | 0901 11 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Green coffee, decaffeinated | 0901 12 00 00 | 8% | None |
| Roasted coffee, not decaffeinated | 0901 21 00 00 | 6% | None |
| Roasted coffee, decaffeinated | 0901 22 00 00 | 8% | None |
Food safety and labelling
Roasted coffee must meet the ochratoxin A limits in [retained Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/2006/1881/contents), and roasters must apply the acrylamide mitigation measures and benchmark levels of [retained Regulation (EU) 2017/2158](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/2017/2158/contents). Pesticide residues must be within the maximum residue levels of retained Regulation (EC) No 396/2005.
Retail packs need labelling under retained Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, including the name, net quantity, best-before date and the importer's name and address. Many UK roasters buy green beans and roast here, which keeps the duty at 0% and gives a fresher product.
Worked duty example
Take a hypothetical order of 2 tonnes of roasted Yunnan arabica beans in valve bags, entered under 0901 21 00 00: £24,000 free on board plus £1,800 of freight and insurance gives a customs value of £25,800. The 6% duty comes to £1,548. Coffee is zero-rated food for VAT under [Notice 701/14](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/food-products-and-vat-notice-70114), so no import VAT is due. The same value of green beans under 0901 11 00 00 would pay no duty at all. Step by step: UK import duty and VAT.
What goes wrong
Coffee lots fail on moisture, defects and staleness. Green beans shipped too wet grow mould and pick up ochratoxin in the container; the lot has more black, sour, broken or insect-damaged beans than the grade, or a wider screen size spread than the sample; jute bags without liners take up odours; and roasted coffee shipped by sea goes stale unless it is packed in valve bags or nitrogen-flushed.
Check moisture by the oven method of ISO 6673, grade a 300 g sample for defects and foreign matter as ISO 4149 describes, using the reference chart of ISO 10470, measure screen size, cup a roasted sample against the approved one, test ochratoxin A at an accredited laboratory, and require hermetic liners in the bags and a dry, odour-free container.
Cambridge China Bridge sources green and roasted coffee from Yunnan for roasters, cafés and retail brands, starting with sample lots and small first orders. See how we handle smaller orders.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on coffee from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 26 September 2026, green coffee carried 0% from China, roasted coffee 6%, and decaffeinated coffee 8%.
Is there VAT on imported coffee beans?
No. Coffee is zero-rated food under VAT Notice 701/14.
Where does Chinese coffee come from?
Mostly Yunnan province, which grows arabica.
How do I check green coffee quality?
Measure moisture, count defects on a graded sample, check screen size, cup a roasted sample and test ochratoxin A.