Sourcing paper tubes and cores from China
Paper and paperboard cores, tubes, bobbins, spools, cops and cones from China, for winding textile yarn, film, tape, labels or paper, pay 0% UK duty on both lines of heading 4822, with no anti-dumping duty. They are bought on internal diameter, wall thickness, length and crush strength, and paper products are within the UK Timber Regulations.
Paper cores, tubes, bobbins, spools and cones from China pay 0% UK duty. Crush strength, dimensional checks and the UK Timber Regulations explained.
0% duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 27 September 2026, heading 4822 covers bobbins, spools, cops and similar supports of paper pulp, paper or paperboard, whether or not perforated or hardened. Both lines, supports for winding textile yarn and other supports such as cores for film, tape and paper, carried 0% on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure.
Plastic cores are classified as plastics, and printed mailing tubes and composite cans sold as packaging may fall in other paper headings, so confirm the commodity code for each product.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Of a kind used for winding textile yarn (cones, cops) | 4822 10 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Other (cores and tubes for film, tape, paper and labels) | 4822 90 00 00 | 0% | None |
Timber rules and core testing
Paper and paperboard products are within the Timber and Timber Products (Placing on the Market) Regulations 2013, so the first business placing them on the GB market must carry out due diligence on the legality of the wood fibre. Ask the mill for the source of the board and any chain-of-custody certificate.
The ISO 11093 series sets test methods for paper and board cores, including dimensions, flat crush and radial crush resistance and moisture content. Name the methods and limits in the specification so both sides measure the same way.
Specifying cores
Specify internal diameter and tolerance, wall thickness, length and end finish (square cut, notched or bevelled), crush and bending strength, moisture content, board grade and plies, surface finish (plain, printed, waxed or dust-free), roundness and straightness, and packing on pallets with moisture protection.
Worked duty example
Suppose, purely for illustration, you import 40,000 paper cores of 76 mm internal diameter for winding film under 4822 90 00 00. At £8,000 free on board and £1,500 to ship and insure, the customs value is £9,500. With 0% duty on paper cores, the only charge is import VAT: 20% of £9,500, or £1,900. VAT-registered businesses usually recover that in their next return. The method is set out in how UK import duty and VAT work.
Inspection checklist
Dimensions: measure internal diameter with a plug gauge, wall thickness, length, roundness and straightness on sampled cores to the ISO 11093 methods.
Strength and moisture: test flat or radial crush against the agreed minimum and check moisture content, because damp cores lose strength and swell.
Finish: check ends are clean and square, surfaces are free of loose dust and paper shreds, and cores are stacked to avoid ovality.
What goes wrong
Core orders fail on diameter, strength and moisture. Internal diameters are tight so cores will not fit the chuck, walls crush on the winder, damp cores warp in transit, and dust from cut ends contaminates film or label lines.
Gauge diameters, test crush strength and moisture before shipping, and wrap pallets. See our quality inspection guide.
Cambridge China Bridge sources paper cores and tubes for UK converters and textile mills, checking the tube maker's test equipment first. See second supplier.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on paper cores from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 27 September 2026, paper cores and tubes under 4822 90 00 00 carried 0% from China, with no anti-dumping duty.
Are yarn cones in the same heading?
Yes. Paper supports for winding textile yarn are 4822 10 00 00, also 0%.
How is core strength tested?
The ISO 11093 series covers core test methods, including flat and radial crush resistance.
Do paper cores fall under the UK Timber Regulations?
Yes. Paper products are in scope, so the first placer on the market needs due diligence.