Sourcing drinking glasses from China
Drinking glasses from China carry 10% UK duty across the drinking-glass lines in heading 7013, with no recorded anti-dumping duty or suspension. Product safety compliance must be demonstrated before sale. Specify the glass, rim finish and intended use, then check production samples and packing. Cambridge China Bridge sources drinking glasses.
UK duty on drinking glasses
Heading 7013 covers table, kitchen and similar glassware. Its drinking-glass lines distinguish stemware from other drinking glasses, lead crystal from other glass, and hand gathering from mechanical gathering. Toughened glasses and cut or decorated glasses have separate lines. For other uses within the wider heading, see glass candle jars and lids.
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, all drinking-glass lines shown carried 10% ordinary duty for goods from China. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty or suspension was recorded for these lines. The tariff attaches cat and dog fur import and export controls: imports and exports of that fur and products made from it are banned. For any fur-containing accessory, confirm the declaration requirements with your customs broker.
The tariff also lists a cultural-goods export licence control; ask your broker to confirm its relevance if the glasses will later be exported. Confirm the commodity code using the glass composition, stem, manufacturing method and decoration, rather than the supplier's product name alone.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hand-gathered stemware, other than lead crystal | 7013 28 10 00 | 10% | None |
| Mechanically gathered stemware, other than lead crystal | 7013 28 90 00 | 10% | None |
| Mechanically gathered lead-crystal stemware | 7013 22 90 00 | 10% | None |
| Mechanically gathered lead-crystal drinking glasses, other | 7013 33 99 00 | 10% | None |
| Toughened drinking glasses, other than lead crystal | 7013 37 10 00 | 10% | None |
| Hand-gathered drinking glasses, other, undecorated | 7013 37 59 00 | 10% | None |
| Mechanically gathered drinking glasses, other, cut or decorated | 7013 37 91 00 | 10% | None |
| Mechanically gathered drinking glasses, other, undecorated | 7013 37 99 00 | 10% | None |
Specify the glass, rim and drinking use
Write the glass composition, whether it is toughened, brim capacity and intended serving capacity, height, diameter, weight and rim profile into the order. For stemware, specify stem thickness, bowl shape and foot dimensions. Agree tolerances with the factory and keep an approved production sample.
Define cold or hot drink use, dishwasher use and stacking requirements. Ask a laboratory to assess food-contact testing for the actual glass composition and any coloured coating, printing or decorated rim. Match reports to the supplied design and finish; discuss the scope through testing and certification.
Products should only be sold after their compliance with product safety regulations has been demonstrated appropriately. Keep the approved sample, test reports, specification and production records together.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of 500 undecorated drinking glasses; illustrative whole-pound FOB and freight values under 7013 37 99 00, invoiced at £2,400 free on board, with £500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £2,900. Duty at 10% is £290. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £3,190, so it is £638. Import taxes total £928; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £290 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Rims and surfaces: check for chips, sharp edges, cracks, embedded particles and scratches, including beneath the rim and around stem joints.
Capacity and stability: measure capacity, dimensions and weight against the agreed specification; place glasses on a flat surface and check for rocking or leaning.
Decoration and use: compare colour and artwork with the approved sample; check adhesion and repeat the agreed washing, stacking and temperature-change checks on production samples.
Packing and arrival: open sampled cartons before shipment and on arrival; check dividers, stem protection, glass-to-glass contact and breakage. Record findings using the inspection guide.
What goes wrong
A showroom sample can hide production variation. Heavy bases change the feel of the glass, uneven feet make it rock, and thin rims chip during handling. Stacked tumblers can jam together when their shape or surface finish changes. Compare production samples with the approved sample before accepting the batch.
Decoration can rub off or change after washing, while tightly packed glasses can arrive with chipped rims despite intact outer cartons. Test the finished decorated glass and the agreed packing arrangement. Photograph damage before repacking and separate affected stock for assessment.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For own-brand ranges, see sourcing for brands.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on drinking glasses from China?
The drinking-glass lines in heading 7013 carried 10% ordinary duty on the read date, with no recorded anti-dumping or countervailing duty or suspension.
What food-contact tests should I ask for?
Ask a laboratory to assess the actual glass composition, decoration and intended drinking conditions. Check that the report covers the supplied design and finish, including any decorated rim.
Can I specify dishwasher-safe drinking glasses?
Yes. Agree the washing conditions and acceptance criteria before ordering, then check production samples for decoration loss, surface changes and damage.
How should drinking glasses be packed for shipping?
Agree dividers or individual protection that prevents glass-to-glass contact, with support for stems and feet. Open sampled packed cartons before shipment and check again on arrival.