Sourcing cork granules and raw cork from China
Natural cork, raw or simply prepared, cork waste, and crushed, granulated or ground cork from China pay 0% UK duty on both lines of heading 4501, with no anti-dumping duty. Cork granules are used for agglomerated cork, insulation, flooring underlay, sports surfaces and craft. Buyers check granule size, density, dust, moisture and cleanliness.
0% duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 17 November 2026, heading 4501 covers natural cork, raw or simply prepared, and waste cork, crushed, granulated or ground cork. Both lines carried 0% on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure. The tariff attaches an organic control that matters only for organic claims, and the waste and granule line carries the waste import control, answered by a not-waste declaration for granules made as a product.
Cork blocks and sheets are covered in our natural cork blocks guide, and agglomerated cork products in our cork products guide; confirm the commodity code.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural cork, raw or simply prepared | 4501 10 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Cork waste; crushed, granulated or ground cork | 4501 90 00 00 | 0% | None |
Specifying cork granules
Specify granule size range, bulk density, dust and fines content, moisture, colour, cleanliness (bark, wood and grit), and packing in bags. For granules used in playground or sports surfaces, ask what testing the finished surface will need.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 10 tonnes of 1 to 3 mm cork granules under 4501 90 00 00, invoiced at £9,000 free on board, with £2,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £11,500. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £11,500, so it is £2,300. 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
Grading: sieve samples and check the size range and fines.
Density and moisture: measure bulk density and moisture.
Cleanliness: check for bark, wood and grit. See our quality inspection guide.
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What goes wrong
Cork granule orders fail on grading, dust and moisture. Size ranges are wider than specified, fines and dust are high, and damp granules go mouldy.
Cambridge China Bridge sources natural materials for UK manufacturers from small lots; see small orders.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on cork granules from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 17 November 2026, crushed and granulated cork under 4501 90 00 00 carried 0% from China.
Are agglomerated cork sheets in heading 4501?
No. Agglomerated cork is heading 4504.
What should I check on cork granules?
Size range, fines, bulk density, moisture and cleanliness.
Why does the tariff mention organic control?
It applies only if the cork is sold as organic.