Sourcing olive oil from China
Olive oil from China under heading 1509 carries UK duty of £102 to £112 per 100 kg, depending on the line. Extra virgin and virgin oil pay £104 per 100 kg and must meet the correct sensory properties, not just a supplier's acidity specification. Cambridge China Bridge sources olive oil.
Buying from China for a business? How our UK China sourcing agent service works · China sourcing agent for small orders and first imports
Duty per weight, not a percentage
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 18 November 2026, heading 1509 covers olive oil and its fractions, refined or not, but not chemically modified. Extra virgin and virgin olive oil carry £104 per 100 kg, other virgin olive oils £102 per 100 kg, and the remaining olive oil lines £112 per 100 kg. The supplied facts record no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension.
Organic import control is attached to the listed lines except other virgin olive oils. The tariff says goods without the required inspection certificate cannot enter free circulation with organic claims intact. Official guidance says the exporter's control body issues the certificate. For organic oil from China, confirm the certificate and recognised control-body route before shipment. Waste import and export controls are also attached: where notification controls apply, shipment needs the relevant authorities' consent. Confirm applicability with your customs broker.
Specify the oil category and container capacity, then confirm the commodity code. A small-container tariff line does not itself establish that the oil meets food-sale rules. No percentage-duty worked example is available because every recorded line uses duty per weight.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extra virgin olive oil, containers holding 5 litres or less | 1509 20 00 10 | £104.00 per 100 kg | None |
| Extra virgin olive oil, larger containers | 1509 20 00 90 | £104.00 per 100 kg | None |
| Virgin olive oil, containers holding 5 litres or less | 1509 30 00 10 | £104.00 per 100 kg | None |
| Virgin olive oil, larger containers | 1509 30 00 90 | £104.00 per 100 kg | None |
| Other olive oil, containers holding 5 litres or less | 1509 90 00 10 | £112.00 per 100 kg | None |
| Other olive oil, larger containers | 1509 90 00 90 | £112.00 per 100 kg | None |
Specify the oil grade and its source
State whether you want extra virgin, virgin or refined olive oil blended with virgin oil. Ask for the olive-growing origin, extraction and bottling locations, batch identity, composition, acidity, peroxide value and agreed shelf life. Distinguish oil produced in China from oil bottled there using imported supplies.
Extra virgin and virgin olive oil must have the correct sensory properties, including smell and taste. Agree independent sensory assessment alongside chemical testing rather than accepting an acidity result alone. Specify bottle material, closure, seal, light protection, carton strength and storage instructions. Use testing and certification support to define the checks.
Inspection checklist
Grade: compare the batch analysis and independent sensory assessment with the ordered category and approved sample.
Condition: check for rancid or musty odours, unexpected sediment, colour variation and evidence of heat exposure.
Packaging: check closures, seals, leakage, bottle damage, fill consistency and carton condition on arrival.
Identity: match batch markings, source records and label artwork to the purchase specification; check organic inspection paperwork where relevant.
What goes wrong
An acidity certificate can conceal a sensory problem, so oil ordered as extra virgin may disappoint despite an apparently acceptable chemical result. Other failures include substitution with another oil, oxidation during storage, leaking closures and source records that describe the bottling country rather than the olives' origin.
Approve a retained sample and label artwork before production, test the shipping batch, and compare arrival samples with the agreed specification. Our inspection guide explains how to organise these checks.
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 olive oil from China?
Extra virgin and virgin olive oil pay £104 per 100 kg. Other virgin olive oils pay £102 per 100 kg, and other olive oil £112 per 100 kg. The supplied tariff facts record no trade remedy or suspension.
Is an acidity certificate enough for extra virgin olive oil?
No. Extra virgin and virgin olive oil must also have the correct sensory properties, including smell and taste. Ask for independent sensory assessment as well as chemical analysis.
What paperwork should I check for organic olive oil?
Check the inspection certificate issued by the exporter's control body and confirm the recognised import route. The tariff attaches organic import control to the listed lines except other virgin olive oils.
Does buying from China prove the olives were grown there?
No. Ask separately for olive-growing origin, extraction location and bottling location, supported by batch records. A Chinese supplier may bottle oil sourced elsewhere.