Sourcing paper honeycombs from China
Paper honeycomb party decorations within heading 9505 carry 2% UK duty from China, for both Christmas and other festive variants. Consumer products must only be sold once safety compliance has been demonstrated. Specify paper, glue lines and hanging fixings. Cambridge China Bridge sources paper honeycomb party decorations.
UK duty on paper honeycomb decorations
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 7 October 2026, heading 9505 covers festive, carnival and other entertainment articles. Paper honeycomb decorations classified as Christmas articles of other materials or other festive articles carry 2% duty from China. The supplied data lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspensions. The table repeats relevant codes for different product shapes.
The tariff attaches cat and dog fur import controls to both relevant codes and a fluorinated greenhouse gas import control to the other-articles code. Specify the complete materials, including any trim or bundled accessories, and ask your customs broker to confirm the applicable requirements and declaration documents. The supplied data also lists cat and dog fur export controls and a cultural-object export licence measure.
Classification depends on the actual article and its festive use, rather than its paper material alone. Send photographs, construction details and intended use when confirming the commodity code. See the paper party confetti guide for the wider heading.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper honeycomb party balls, subject to classification | 9505 90 00 00 | 2% | None |
| Paper honeycomb Christmas decorations, subject to classification | 9505 10 90 00 | 2% | None |
Specify the paper, opening action and fixings
Specify the opened shape and dimensions, tissue weight, colour reference, backing card, glue-line pattern and closure method. Decide whether the decoration closes with adhesive tabs, clips or magnets, and whether customers are expected to fold it flat after use. Approve a finished sample with the actual hanging cord and retail pack.
Consumer products should only be sold once compliance with product safety regulations has been demonstrated appropriately. For the sample review, consider loose clips or magnets, exposed sharp fixings, hanging cords and foreseeable placement near candles. Record the intended use and agree suitable instructions before approving packaging.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of 5,000 mixed paper honeycomb decoration sets; illustrative whole-pound FOB value and freight under 9505 90 00 00, invoiced at £30,000 free on board, with £5,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £35,000. Duty at 2% is £700. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £35,700, so it is £7,140. Import taxes total £7,840; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £700 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Opening: unfold samples from different cartons and check that cells open evenly, the shape matches the approved sample and backing cards meet without tearing.
Bonding: check for detached glue lines, blocked cells and tissue splitting during assembly and any agreed refolding.
Colour and fixings: compare colours against the retained sample, rub tissue against dry white paper and check cords, closures and attachment points.
Packing: check set contents, flattened edges, dampness and retail-pack protection on arrival. Use the approved sample as the reference for inspection.
What goes wrong
Uneven glue lines leave distorted shapes or cells that will not open. Thin tissue tears beside the backing card, closures pull away and poorly attached cords let decorations fall. A colour name alone can produce mismatched shades across balls, fans and garlands.
Damp cartons can leave tissue stuck together or stained, while tight packing crushes the folded edges. Open an assembled set from arrival stock before releasing it for sale, and separate damaged or inconsistent batches for review.
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 paper honeycomb party decorations from China?
The relevant Christmas and other festive codes both carry 2% duty from China in the supplied tariff data. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty or suspension is listed.
Are Christmas honeycomb decorations classified differently?
Potentially. Paper Christmas articles may fall under 9505 10 90 00; other festive articles may fall under 9505 90 00 00. Confirm classification using the actual design and intended use.
Can paper honeycomb decorations be reused?
Specify reuse before ordering. Approve the closure method and check that opening, closing and refolding do not tear tissue or detach the backing cards.
What should I send a Chinese decoration factory?
Send opened dimensions, shapes, paper and colour references, closure and cord details, set contents and packaging artwork. Keep the approved assembled sample for checking production.