Sourcing metal collapsible tube caps from China
Metal collapsible tube caps from China carry 0% UK duty under the other base-metal closure line, with no trade remedies recorded. Confirm the applicable food-contact rules for food-contact caps and plastic liners with the relevant authority. Match the cap to the tube neck and contents before ordering. Cambridge China Bridge sources metal collapsible tube caps.
Duty and classification for metal tube caps
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 8309 covers base-metal stoppers, caps, lids and other packing accessories. Metal caps supplied separately for collapsible tubes fall within the scope considered here. The relevant residual line, 8309 90 90 90, carries 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control for that line.
The table shows cap variants under the same tariff line, rather than separate commodity lines. Confirm the commodity code using the cap drawing, shell material and details of any liner or piercing point. A plastic cap does not become a metal closure merely because it fits an aluminium tube. For the wider heading, see bottle caps and closures.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminium screw caps for collapsible tubes | 8309 90 90 90 | 0% | None |
Specify the cap against the collapsible tube neck
Send the factory the tube-neck drawing and actual tubes. Specify the neck thread, cap internal thread, engagement depth, sealing face and overall cap profile. State the metal grade, shell thickness, grip pattern, finish and any liner. If the cap incorporates a membrane-piercing point, approve its position and shape against the actual sealed tube.
Agree application and removal torque, leak-test conditions and repeated opening checks before production. Trial the cap on your filling and capping equipment. Specify compatibility checks for the liner and internal coating using the intended contents and storage conditions; a cap that fits can still leak or suffer coating damage.
For caps intended for food contact, confirm with the relevant authority how Regulation 1935/2004 applies to the cap and how the plastics rules under Regulation 10/2011 apply to any plastic sealing liner. Ask for a declaration of compliance and migration reports matched to the liner, internal coating, food and filling conditions. For closures used with hazardous household chemicals, confirm any child-resistance and tactile-warning requirements with HSE. Use testing and certification support to review the intended application.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 60,000 metal collapsible tube caps; illustrative order, FOB value and freight under 8309 90 90 90, invoiced at £7,000 free on board, with £600 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £7,600. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £7,600, so it is £1,520. 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
Thread and fit: compare dimensions with the approved drawing and fit sampled caps to production tubes; check cross-threading, seating and thread stripping.
Seal and opening: check liner presence and positioning, application and removal torque, leakage after squeezing, and sealing after repeated opening.
Piercing point and finish: where fitted, check that the point opens the membrane without damaging the neck; inspect burrs, coating coverage, scratches and loose debris.
Packing and identity: check cap variants, batch identification and carton contents against the order; inspect for crushed shells and moisture damage. Arrange a shipment inspection.
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What goes wrong
A cap can have the right outside diameter but the wrong thread or engagement depth. It may feel tight while failing to compress the liner, or strip the soft tube neck during application. A misplaced piercing point can miss the membrane or damage the opening. Approve the cap and tube together, then retain the fitted assembly and drawings as the production reference.
Loose liners, incompatible coatings and distorted shells cause leakage or contamination. For hazardous chemical packaging with a replaceable closure, HSE says the closure must continue to prevent escape after repeated use. Include reopening and resealing in the filled-tube trial; checking an empty cap alone will miss failures caused by the contents.
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 metal collapsible tube caps from China?
The supplied tariff record shows 0% duty under 8309 90 90 90, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control. Confirm classification for the cap supplied.
Which measurements should I send to the cap factory?
Send the tube-neck drawing, thread details, engagement depth and sealing-face dimensions, plus actual tubes. Specify the liner, shell material, finish and any membrane-piercing point.
Do metal tube caps need food-contact evidence?
For food-contact use, ask for evidence covering the cap, internal coating and liner. Confirm the applicable plastics rules for plastic liners with the relevant authority; match migration reports to your food and filling conditions.
How do I check whether the cap will leak?
Trial production caps on the intended filled tubes. Check application torque, squeezing, storage orientation and repeated opening and resealing. Agree test conditions and acceptance criteria before production.