Sourcing Corrugated Octabins from China

Corrugated octabin codes and UK duty

Heading 4819 covers paper and paperboard packing containers alongside office and shop storage articles. Corrugated octabins are bulk packing boxes within the corrugated-container family. The table repeats the corrugated code for different octabin constructions; these are formats within the same tariff line.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, the supplied corrugated-container line carries 0% duty for goods from China. The record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing measures, suspensions or attached import controls. Import VAT is 20%; see UK import duty and VAT.

Confirm the commodity code against the assembled octabin, board construction and components supplied. Identify any separately supplied liners or pallets for your customs broker to assess. For the wider heading, see corrugated shipping cartons.

Specify the octabin around its contents and pallet

Give the factory the contents, bulk density, filled weight, filling method and discharge method. Specify internal dimensions, pallet footprint, board composition, flute construction, joint design, base support and lid retention. Agree the storage environment and filled stacking arrangement. Approve an assembled, filled sample on the intended pallet, including any liner.

Specify whether the liner is loose or attached, its material, closure and resistance to puncture by the contents. Check that it stays in position during filling and does not obstruct discharge. If the octabin or liner will touch unwrapped food, obtain evidence of suitability for that intended contact before ordering.

Obtain component weights and check whether packaging producer responsibility applies to your business. For virgin-fibre board placed on the Great Britain market, confirm any timber due-diligence obligations with the relevant authority or customs broker. Ask for pulp sources, species and countries of harvest, and confirm how recovered materials affect scope.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 40 corrugated octabins with separate bases and lids; illustrative trial order, FOB value and freight under 4819 10 00 00, invoiced at £4,000 free on board, with £1,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £5,200. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £5,200, so it is £1,040. 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

Assembly and fit: erect production samples on the intended pallet; check footprint, internal space, base seating, locking tabs and lid fit.

Filled strength: load and stack samples in the agreed arrangement; check wall bulging, base sag, joint separation and movement on the pallet.

Liner and discharge: check attachment, seams and closure; trial filling and emptying for liner slippage, punctures and trapped contents.

Arrival condition: inspect bundles for dampness, mould, crushed flutes and damaged creases. Compare board and component identification with the approved sample and record findings for quality inspection.

What goes wrong

An empty octabin can stand neatly but bulge once filled. A poorly supported base may sag between pallet deck boards, while a loose footprint lets the load shift. Check the complete filled assembly rather than approving board thickness or a flat blank alone.

A liner can slip into the contents during filling or snag during discharge. Damp board and crushed folds weaken the assembly, while substituted board or adhesive can change joint performance. Keep the approved sample and material specification together, and investigate substitutions before accepting the shipment.

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.