Sourcing offset lithographic inks from China
Offset lithographic printing inks from China normally carry 6% UK duty; narrow formulation-specific suspensions give a 0% to 6% range. Before sale in Great Britain, inks need correct chemical labelling and packaging. Match the ink to the press, paper and drying system. Cambridge China Bridge sources offset lithographic printing inks.
Offset ink duty and the narrow suspensions
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 3215 covers printing, writing, drawing and other inks, whether concentrated or solid. Offset lithographic printing inks fall within its printing-ink branches: black under 3215 11 00 00 and other colours ordinarily under 3215 19 00 90. The table separates press applications that share these codes.
Both codes carry 6% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty shown in the supplied tariff record. Their 0% suspensions are restricted to specified liquid dispersions of vinyl acrylate copolymer and colour pigments in isoparaffins, containing not more than 13% by weight of those components. Do not assume an ordinary offset formulation qualifies.
The tariff attaches import and export waste controls to both codes. If importing ink waste from China into England under notification controls, shipment can start only after the Environment Agency and the other competent authorities involved consent. Ask your customs broker to confirm the control for your goods and destination. Confirm the commodity code against the formulation. For wider printing-ink context, see the flexographic inks guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black sheet-fed offset printing ink | 3215 11 00 00 | 6% | None |
| Coloured sheet-fed offset printing inks | 3215 19 00 90 | 6% | None |
Specify the press, substrate and drying system
State whether the ink is for sheet-fed or web offset, and specify conventional drying or ultraviolet curing. Give the factory the press details, paper or board, fountain solution, colour reference and finishing process. Agree tack, viscosity, colour strength, drying behaviour and rub resistance against an approved press trial rather than a colour swatch alone.
Confirm the UK REACH registration position with HSE using the constituents and planned annual import quantities, and request an English safety data sheet for each formulation. Correct chemical labelling and packaging are required before sale in Great Britain. For food packaging, request formulation information, low-migration declarations and migration evidence for the finished printed packaging.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 2 tonnes of coloured sheet-fed offset printing inks under 3215 19 00 90, invoiced at £12,000 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £12,900. Duty at 6% is £774. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £13,674, so it is £2,734.80. Import taxes total £3,508.80; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £774 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Colour: compare batch drawdowns and press proofs with the approved sample on the specified stock; check transparency, strength and shade.
Press behaviour: check ink-water balance, tack, picking, emulsification and piling during a trial using the agreed fountain solution.
Drying and finish: check drying or curing, set-off, rub resistance and compatibility with varnishing, lamination or folding.
Arrival and records: check seals, leaks, skinning, separation and contamination; match container batch references to the analysis certificate and safety data sheet. Retain samples for quality inspection.
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What goes wrong
A batch can match the colour reference yet run badly because its tack or ink-water balance differs. Slow setting causes sheets to stick or transfer ink onto the next sheet. An unsuitable curing formulation leaves a weak film, while contamination or poorly dispersed pigment produces streaks and deposits.
A low-migration claim alone does not establish suitability for the finished food pack. Assess the ink with the actual substrate, drying conditions and packing arrangement. Agree batch acceptance checks before shipment, keep the approved sample and require the factory to disclose formulation changes.
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 offset printing ink from China?
The supplied tariff record shows 6% for black and other-colour printing inks. Narrow formulation-specific suspensions can reduce duty to 0%. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty is shown.
Can I use the same offset ink on any press?
Specify sheet-fed or web offset, the drying or curing system, stock and fountain solution. Approve the formulation through a press trial with your intended finishing process.
What documents should I ask the ink factory for?
Request an English safety data sheet, formulation information for chemical compliance, a batch analysis certificate and agreed press-test results. For food packaging, request low-migration and finished-pack migration evidence.
What should I check when offset inks arrive?
Check seals, leaks, batch references, separation, skinning and contamination. Compare retained samples with the approved ink and trial colour, drying, rub resistance and ink-water balance.