Sourcing permanent marker pens from China

Duty on permanent marker pens

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, finished felt-tipped and porous-tipped permanent markers under 9608 20 00 00 carried 2% duty from China. Heading 9608 also covers other writing instruments, mixed sets and parts. The selected lines show no anti-dumping or countervailing duty. Finished markers have no recorded suspension; loose porous tips under 9608 91 00 20 have a 0.00 % suspension excluding mixtures, preparations or products made up of different components containing these tips.

The tariff attaches CITES import and export controls to finished markers, mixed sets and other parts; the selected loose-tip line shows an export control only. CITES specimens include animal or plant parts, derivatives and items made from them. Obtain the factory's material specification and ask your customs broker to confirm the requirement for the actual goods from China.

Confirm the commodity code using the tip construction and whether you are importing finished pens, loose parts or a mixed writing-instrument set. A colour assortment of markers should not be described as a set of different writing-instrument categories merely because it is boxed. See the wider pens and markers guide.

Specify the ink, tip and writing surfaces

Specify ink colour and formulation, bullet or chisel tip, line width, barrel material, cap fit, printing and pack format. Name the surfaces the marker must write on, such as cardboard, plastic, glass or metal. Agree drying, dry-rub and water-exposure checks on those actual surfaces, with an approved sample for comparison.

Consumer markers must be safe under general product safety rules. Ask for cap safety evidence against ISO 11540 and check sample vents. Agree a capped-storage and uncapped-recovery test so the factory cannot approve ink only by writing immediately after filling. Include warm-storage leakage checks in the inspection brief.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Cartons of own-label permanent marker pens for a business stock order, illustrative only under 9608 20 00 00, invoiced at £2,500 free on board, with £1,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £3,700. Duty at 2% is £74. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £3,774, so it is £754.80. Import taxes total £828.80; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £74 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Ink and adhesion: write on the agreed surfaces, compare colour and line continuity, then check smearing and rub resistance after the agreed drying period.

Tip and storage: check tip shape, fraying and movement; retest stored samples for hard starts, drying and leakage.

Caps and barrels: check cap vents against the agreed safety evidence, closure fit, cracked barrels and leaking tip joints.

Print and packing: compare logos and colour names with approved artwork; check print adhesion, barcodes, pack contents and carton counts on arrival.

What goes wrong

A marker may write well on paper but smear on smooth plastic or wipe off glass. Loose caps let solvent escape, leaving dry tips; warm storage can expose leaking joints. Tips can flatten or fray, changing the line, while colour names on the pack may not match the ink.

Keep approved samples and the agreed surface tests with the purchase specification. Require approval before the factory changes the ink, tip or cap. Inspect delivered stock against the same checks before distributing it.

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.