Sourcing porcelain soup tureens from China
Porcelain soup tureens from China carry 12% ordinary UK duty, with a residual anti-dumping rate of 36.10% also listed. In England, ceramic food-contact rules limit lead and cadmium migration and require a written declaration for new articles through retail sale. Cambridge China Bridge sources porcelain soup tureens.
Duty on porcelain soup tureens
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 6911 covers porcelain or china tableware, kitchenware, other household articles and toilet articles. Soup tureens for serving food fall within the tableware and kitchenware family. The table repeats the relevant code for different tureen specifications.
The relevant line, 6911 10 00 90, lists 12% ordinary duty and a residual anti-dumping rate of 36.10% for China, with no suspension or countervailing duty recorded. The tariff also lists an import waste control, an export waste control and a cultural-goods export licence measure. Waste controls apply when the shipment is waste; confirm the applicable requirement with your customs broker before shipping any waste from China.
Confirm the material, intended use and commodity code with your broker, including the applicable anti-dumping treatment. For other products within this heading, see porcelain hotel dinnerware. Use the import duty and VAT guide when reviewing landed costs; the illustrative order also needs an anti-dumping allowance.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plain porcelain soup tureens with lids | 6911 10 00 90 | 12% | 36.10% residual anti-dumping |
Specify the tureen, lid and food-contact evidence
Specify porcelain body, usable capacity, overall dimensions, filled weight, handle shape, lid seating, knob grip and any ladle notch. Agree glaze colour, decoration placement and replacement-lid compatibility. State whether the tureen is for serving hot soup, cooking or storage, and ask for evidence supporting dishwasher, microwave or oven claims.
In England, lead and cadmium migration must stay within the applicable ceramic limits. For a vessel with a ceramic lid, the vessel and inner lid surface must be tested separately under the same conditions, with their extraction results combined against the vessel's surface area or volume. Ask the laboratory to assess the actual decorated tureen and lid.
New ceramic articles not yet in contact with food must carry a written declaration through the retail stage in England. Obtain it for the supplied model and finish, alongside supporting migration evidence. Arrange testing and certification before approving production.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 600 porcelain soup tureens with lids; allow separately for anti-dumping duty 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
Lid fit: seat each sampled lid, check rocking and clearance, and confirm the ladle notch suits the intended ladle.
Body and handles: check rims, feet, knobs and handle roots for chips or cracks; test filled handling against the agreed specification.
Glaze and decoration: compare with the approved sample, inspect food-contact surfaces for crazing and pinholes, and match the supplied finish to the evidence.
Packing and arrival: check separate cushioning for lid and body, open cartons across the shipment and record broken pieces before warehouse acceptance.
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What goes wrong
A display sample can hide practical problems: a lid rocks, the ladle notch is too narrow, a filled tureen is awkward to carry, or the foot scratches a table. Treat these as checks to resolve on the complete sample before ordering. Approve the body and lid together.
Watch for reports covering a different glaze or decoration, and cartons that let lids strike the tureen rims. Keep the approved sample and packing specification available for quality inspection, then compare the arrival condition with the pre-shipment record.
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 soup tureens from China?
The relevant line lists 12% ordinary duty plus a residual anti-dumping rate of 36.10%. Confirm the applicable anti-dumping treatment with your customs broker.
Does a porcelain tureen lid need migration testing?
In England, the vessel and inner ceramic lid surface must be tested separately under the same conditions; their extraction results are combined against the vessel's surface area or volume.
What paperwork should accompany new porcelain soup tureens?
In England, new ceramic articles not yet in contact with food need a written declaration through the retail stage. Obtain a declaration matching the supplied tureen and finish.
How do I prevent tureens breaking in transit?
Agree separate cushioning for lids and bodies, protect handles and knobs, and test the packed sample. On arrival, open cartons across the shipment and record damage.