Sourcing pad printing inks from China
Pad printing inks from China normally carry 6% UK duty; narrowly specified formulations may qualify for 0% under a suspension. Chemical suppliers are responsible for classification, and inks must be correctly labelled and packaged before supply. Cambridge China Bridge sources pad printing inks.
Pad printing ink duty and classification
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 3215 covers printing, writing, drawing and other inks. For this guide, black pad printing inks fall within 3215 11 00 00 and ordinary coloured printing inks within 3215 19 00 90. The table repeats these codes for different ink systems; they are not separate tariff subdivisions.
Both relevant lines carry 6% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measure recorded. Narrow suspensions offer 0% for specified liquid vinyl acrylate copolymer and pigment dispersions in isoparaffins. Do not assume a pad printing formulation qualifies. The tariff attaches import and export waste controls. For waste ink from China entering England under notification controls, the exporter must seek consent from the dispatch-country competent authority; confirm the remaining requirements with your customs broker.
Give your broker the formulation, colour and intended printing use to confirm the commodity code, including the treatment of separately supplied hardener and thinner. See the printing inks and ink cartridges guide for the wider heading.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black pad printing ink, solvent-drying | 3215 11 00 00 | 6% | None |
| Coloured pad printing ink, solvent-drying | 3215 19 00 90 | 6% | None |
Match the ink to the substrate and curing process
Specify the actual substrate grade, surface finish and any pretreatment, rather than asking for an ink suitable for plastic. Supply production blanks and artwork. Agree colour, opacity, gloss, fine-detail reproduction and resistance to the cleaning agents the printed product will encounter.
State whether the ink dries by solvent evaporation or needs a hardener. Ask for the matching thinner, mixing instructions, usable life after mixing and curing conditions. Trial the ink with your pad, engraved plate and ink cup, then assess adhesion and rubbing resistance after the agreed cure.
Chemical suppliers are responsible for classification. Classification and labelling must be carried out by someone scientifically competent, and supply-chain businesses are responsible for correct labelling and packaging before placing chemicals on the market. Check your UK REACH registration responsibilities and request an English safety data sheet for each ink, hardener and thinner.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative mixed-colour stock order in sealed tins for a small printing business 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
Identity: match each tin's ink series, colour, batch reference and accompanying documents to the approved order.
Condition: check lids, seals and tins for leakage or damage; stir a sample and look for skinning, gel particles or sediment that will not redisperse.
Print trial: use production blanks and the agreed mixing and machine settings; compare colour, opacity, edge definition and pad release with the approved sample.
Cure and resistance: repeat the agreed adhesion, rubbing and cleaning-agent checks after curing; retain labelled samples from incoming batches.
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What goes wrong
A colour match on a sample card can hide poor adhesion on the buyer's moulded part. Changes in substrate grade, surface treatment or mould-release residue can alter results. An unsuitable thinner can disturb pad pickup and release, leaving missing detail, pinholes or uneven coverage.
Ink can feel dry while the print remains vulnerable to rubbing or cleaning. Incorrect hardener mixing or printing beyond the agreed usable life can undermine performance. Approve the complete ink, substrate and curing process, and require agreement before the factory changes the formulation.
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 pad printing ink from China?
The relevant black and coloured printing ink lines carry 6% duty, with no recorded anti-dumping or countervailing measure. A narrowly defined qualifying formulation may receive 0% under a suspension.
Will the same pad printing ink work on every plastic?
Specify the actual plastic grade, finish and pretreatment. Trial the ink on production blanks and assess adhesion after the agreed cure; a colour card alone does not establish suitability.
What documents should I request for imported pad printing ink?
Request English safety data sheets, formulation information for classification and UK REACH checks, batch references, and the supplier's mixing and curing instructions.
How should I check pad printing ink before accepting a batch?
Inspect seals and ink condition, print production blanks with the agreed settings, compare against the approved sample, and check adhesion, rubbing and cleaning resistance after curing.