Sourcing pastel pencils from China
Pastel pencils from China carry 2% UK duty; the wider heading ranges from 0% to 2%. Consumer products supplied in Great Britain must be safe. For pencils intended for children's play, confirm with Trading Standards whether toy safety rules apply and what compliance is needed. Specify core softness, colour and sharpening performance. Cambridge China Bridge sources pastel pencils.
Pastel pencil duty and classification
Heading 9609 covers pencils, crayons, separate pencil leads, pastels, drawing charcoals and writing, drawing or tailors' chalks. For pastel pencils with a non-graphite core enclosed in a sheath, check 9609 10 90 00. The table includes related drawing materials for buyers ordering a combined range; these are distinct tariff lines.
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, all the listed pencil, pencil-lead and pastel lines carry 2% duty for goods from China. The remaining other-articles line carries 0%. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duties, suspensions or attached import controls for these lines.
Confirm the commodity code using the core composition, whether it is enclosed in a sheath, and the contents of any mixed set. For loose sticks, see soft drawing pastels.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-graphite sheathed pencils, including pastel pencils | 9609 10 90 00 | 2% | None |
| Separate black or coloured pencil leads | 9609 20 00 00 | 2% | None |
| Loose pastels and drawing charcoals supplied alongside pencils | 9609 90 10 00 | 2% | None |
| Graphite drawing pencils supplied alongside pastel pencils | 9609 10 10 00 | 2% | None |
Specify the pastel core and sharpening method
Agree the core composition, softness, diameter, barrel shape, wood, finish and colour assortment. Approve swatches on the paper your customers will use, comparing dry marks, blending, layering and erasing. State whether pencils arrive sharpened and agree a sharpening method that preserves the point without splitting the barrel.
Consumer pastel pencils supplied in Great Britain must be safe under general product safety law. If designed or intended for children's play, ask Trading Standards to confirm whether toy safety rules apply and which safety, conformity documentation and marking requirements must be met. Agree the intended use before commissioning testing and certification.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of 2,000 boxed pastel pencils under 9609 10 90 00, invoiced at £2,500 free on board, with £540 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £3,040. Duty at 2% is £60.80. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £3,100.80, so it is £620.16. Import taxes total £680.96; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £60.80 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Core and barrel: sharpen sampled pencils and draw with them; check centring, internal fractures, loose cores, split wood and rough barrel joints.
Colour and handling: compare each shade with approved swatches on the agreed paper; check coverage, blending, scratchy particles and differences between batches.
Finish and identification: check coating adhesion, smooth surfaces, shade names, colour references and agreement between the barrel and the actual mark.
Packing and documents: check the assortment, pencil restraint, tip protection and carton condition. For toy products, check the declaration of conformity and markings against the ordered product.
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What goes wrong
A soft core can crumble during sharpening, while a harder replacement can scratch paper and blend poorly. Internal fractures may appear only after repeated sharpening. Barrel colours can also disguise a mismatch in the actual pigment. Compare production samples with the approved pencils, using the same paper and sharpening method.
Loose trays and unprotected points can turn intact factory samples into broken stock on arrival. Agree transport protection and inspect incoming cartons before releasing stock. Include sharpening and drawing checks in the inspection brief, rather than relying on the appearance of unopened boxes.
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 pastel pencils from China?
Non-graphite sheathed pencils under 9609 10 90 00 carry 2% duty in the supplied tariff record. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty is listed.
Are pastel pencils classified as loose pastels?
Check the construction: non-graphite cores enclosed in a sheath point to 9609 10 90 00, while loose pastels have a separate line. Confirm the code for the actual goods.
Do pastel pencils need toy safety compliance?
If designed or intended for children's play, confirm with Trading Standards whether the pencils fall under toy safety rules and which safety, conformity documentation and marking requirements apply.
How do I check whether pastel pencil cores will break?
Sharpen and draw with sampled production pencils, then sharpen again. Look for crumbling, internal fractures and loose cores, and repeat the checks on arrival.