Sourcing porcelain coffee pots from China
Porcelain coffee pots from China carry 12% UK customs duty, with company-specific anti-dumping rates or a residual 36.10% in addition. Confirm with the relevant authority the ceramic food contact requirements for lead and cadmium, a written declaration and supporting test documentation. Cambridge China Bridge sources porcelain coffee pots.
Duty on porcelain coffee pots
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 6911 covers porcelain or china tableware, kitchenware, other household articles and toilet articles. Porcelain coffee pots fall within the tableware and kitchenware line 6911 10 00 90. The table shows coffee-pot variants under that same code. For the wider range, see porcelain hotel dinnerware.
The supplied tariff record shows 12% customs duty and residual anti-dumping duty of 36.10%, with no suspension listed. Check the manufacturer's company-specific anti-dumping rate before costing the order. The record also attaches an import waste control, an export waste control and a cultural-object export licence measure. Waste shipment controls apply only to waste; confirm the attached import requirement with your customs broker if the shipment includes waste.
Confirm the material, intended use and commodity code before ordering. Do not use the excluded kitchen-tool line or the other-household-articles line simply to avoid the tableware anti-dumping measure.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plain porcelain coffee pots | 6911 10 00 90 | 12% | 36.10% residual anti-dumping |
Specify the pot, lid and pouring behaviour
Specify porcelain body, usable capacity, overall dimensions, filled weight, handle clearance, spout shape, lid seating and glaze colour. Agree whether the lid must remain seated while pouring, and approve the pot and lid together. State the intended cleaning method and ask for samples in the final decoration.
Confirm with the relevant authority the applicable lead and cadmium migration limits and requirements for a written declaration of compliance and supporting test documentation. Ask for documents covering the supplied glaze and decoration, rather than an unrelated white-body sample. See food contact materials. Agree sample checks for hot filling and repeated cleaning before approving production.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 2,000 porcelain coffee pots; anti-dumping duty must also be assessed. under 6911 10 00 90, invoiced at £7,000 free on board, with £600 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £7,600. Duty at 12% is £912. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £8,512, so it is £1,702.40. Import taxes total £2,614.40; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £912 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Body and glaze: inspect the interior, spout, rim and handle joints for cracks, chips, glaze defects and rough edges.
Lid and pouring: pair each sampled lid with its pot; check seating, pouring control, drips and handle comfort with the pot filled.
Documents: match the declaration and supporting migration test documentation to the supplied body, glaze and decoration.
Packing and arrival: check that lids cannot strike pots inside the cartons, inspect delivered pieces for concealed chips, and compare colour and shape with the approved sample. Use the quality inspection guide.
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What goes wrong
A lid can fit the sample but rock or jam on production pots. Spouts may dribble, handles may leave too little finger clearance, and pots may crack during hot filling. Decoration can change between the tested sample and the shipment, leaving the buyer with documents that do not cover the supplied finish.
Loose lids and exposed spouts are vulnerable in transit. Approve the packing arrangement with the complete pot and lid, retain the approved sample, and record defects by shipment. Include the anti-dumping duty when comparing suppliers.
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 porcelain coffee pots from China?
The supplied tariff record shows 12% customs duty under 6911 10 00 90, plus residual anti-dumping duty of 36.10%. Check whether the manufacturer has a company-specific rate.
What food contact documents should I request?
Request a written declaration of compliance and supporting lead and cadmium migration test documentation covering the supplied porcelain, glaze and decoration.
How do I check whether a coffee pot pours properly?
Fill the sample to its agreed usable capacity and check pouring control, drips, lid movement and handle comfort. Repeat with production samples.
Can I use a test report for an undecorated pot?
Ask the laboratory to confirm whether it covers the supplied glaze and decoration. Do not assume that a report for a plain sample covers a decorated production pot.