Sourcing Pickled Cucumbers from China
Pickled cucumbers and gherkins from China carry a flat 16% UK duty across the relevant lines. Labels must show drained net weight for cucumbers packed in liquid. Specify added sugar, acidity, crispness and closures before ordering. Cambridge China Bridge sources pickled cucumbers.
Duty on cucumbers preserved in vinegar
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 2001 covers edible plant products prepared or preserved by vinegar or acetic acid. Its cucumber and gherkin lines all carry 16% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspensions for these lines.
The UK Trade Tariff attaches veterinary control and import control of organic products. Official pickle guidance says a health certificate is not normally needed for vegetable-only pickles. Ask your customs broker to confirm how the veterinary control applies to the complete recipe. For organic orders, confirm certification and inspection-certificate requirements with your broker and an approved UK organic control body before shipment.
Confirm the commodity code using the preservation method, cucumber or gherkin description and added sugar. Whole and sliced unsweetened cucumbers share a code in the table. For other vegetables, see the wider vinegar-preserved vegetables guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whole cucumbers in vinegar, without added sugar | 2001 10 00 11 | 16% | None |
| Cucumbers in vinegar, other | 2001 10 00 19 | 16% | None |
| Gherkins in vinegar | 2001 10 00 90 | 16% | None |
Specify the cucumber, brine and closure
State whether you want whole cucumbers, spears or slices, and agree size, slice thickness, colour and crispness against an approved sample. Record vinegar type, acidity, salt, added sugar, spices and preservatives. Agree drained weight, fill level, packaging, pasteurisation records, shelf life and storage instructions.
Labels must show drained net weight. Ask the relevant food authority to confirm the net quantity, allergen emphasis, UK business name and address, and colour and preservative authorisation and declaration requirements for the exact recipe. Match mustard, celery and sulphites to the actual recipe. Ask the factory for evidence that the jar, lid and sealing compound are suitable for acidic food.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 5 tonnes of cucumber slices in vinegar, without added sugar under 2001 10 00 11, invoiced at £15,000 free on board, with £1,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £16,200. Duty at 16% is £2,592. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £18,792, so it is £3,758.40. Import taxes total £6,350.40; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £2,592 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step. This assumes the goods are standard-rated for VAT. Most food for human consumption is zero-rated, and animal feed can be too, in which case no import VAT is due, so check the rate for your product in HMRC's VAT Notice 701/14.
Inspection checklist
Cucumber quality: compare size, cut, colour and crunch with the approved sample; open samples to check for hollow centres, soft flesh and broken slices.
Drained weight: drain and weigh sampled packs against the label and agreed specification; check fill level and headspace.
Acidity and closures: test acidity against the specification, review pasteurisation records, and check for leaks, lost vacuum, bulging lids, cloudiness or gas.
Labels and packing: match ingredients, allergen emphasis, drained weight and batch markings to the recipe and reports; inspect glass, lids and carton protection. Use the inspection guide to prepare the brief.
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What goes wrong
A jar can look full while containing too little cucumber. Other failures include soft or hollow cucumbers, uneven slices, faded colour, fermenting brine and leaking closures. Broken glass and crushed cartons can make an otherwise acceptable batch unusable.
Approve the recipe and label before production, compare shipment samples with the retained sample, and investigate swollen or leaking packs before releasing stock. Keep batch reports with the arrival inspection. Separate duty from the product's VAT treatment using the duty and VAT guide; confirm the VAT treatment of the exact pickled vegetable product with HMRC or your customs broker.
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 pickled cucumbers from China?
The supplied tariff record, read on 30 September 2026, gives 16% for cucumbers and gherkins preserved in vinegar, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty or suspensions on those lines.
Does adding sugar change the cucumber commodity code?
Yes. Cucumbers without added sugar use 2001 10 00 11; other cucumbers use 2001 10 00 19. Both carry 16% in the supplied record. Confirm the complete recipe before declaring.
Do pickled cucumber labels need drained weight?
Yes. Solid food packed in liquid must show drained net weight. Check the cucumber solids after draining, rather than relying on the unopened jar's weight.
Do pickled cucumbers need a health certificate?
Official guidance says vegetable-only pickles do not normally need one. The tariff still attaches veterinary control, so ask your broker to confirm the requirement for the exact recipe.