Sourcing porcelain teapots from China
Porcelain teapots from China carry 12% UK customs duty, plus exporter-specific anti-dumping duty or the residual 36.10%. Food contact compliance is the main rule: obtain a written declaration and lead and cadmium migration evidence for the supplied finish. Cambridge China Bridge sources porcelain teapots.
Duty on porcelain teapots
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 6911 covers porcelain or china tableware, kitchenware, household and toilet articles. Porcelain teapots fall within the other tableware and kitchenware line, 6911 10 00 90. It carries 12% duty on goods from China and residual anti-dumping duty of 36.10%. Check whether the exporter has a company-specific rate. No suspension is listed for this line.
The tariff attaches an import waste control, an export waste control and a DCMS export licence measure. Waste shipment controls apply only when the material is waste. For notified waste from China entering England, the exporter must seek consent in the dispatch country, and shipping requires consent from the Environment Agency and other competent authorities. Ask your customs broker to confirm applicability and any export requirement, particularly for discarded goods or antiques.
Confirm the material, intended use and commodity code before ordering. The table separates teapot specifications sharing the same tariff line. See the porcelain coffee pots guide for related products within the heading.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plain glazed porcelain teapots | 6911 10 00 90 | 12% | 36.10% residual anti-dumping |
Specify the pot, lid and pouring performance
Specify porcelain body, usable capacity, overall dimensions, filled weight, handle clearance, spout shape, lid fit and retention, glaze colour and decoration placement. Define whether a removable infuser is supplied and how its opening fits the pot. Approve a filled pouring sample, including the final pour, rather than judging an empty display sample.
Confirm applicable ceramic food-contact requirements with the relevant authority, including a written declaration of compliance, supporting documentation and lead and cadmium migration limits; use our published reference guide as background. Obtain evidence matching the supplied glaze and decoration. Agree hot-water, cleaning and thermal shock checks for the intended use; ask for testing and certification support where needed.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 2,000 plain porcelain teapots; anti-dumping duty must also be checked. 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
Pouring: fill sampled pots, check the stream and drips, and confirm the lid stays seated during normal pouring.
Body and handle: check cracks, chips, glaze crazing, sharp foot rings and handle attachment; compare dimensions and usable capacity with the approved sample.
Finish and evidence: compare glaze shade and decoration, inspect the interior and spout, and match the supplied finish to the declaration and migration report.
Packing: check cushioning around the spout and handle, separation of the lid, carton condition and breakage on arrival. Use the quality inspection guide to agree the inspection scope.
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What goes wrong
Poor spout geometry makes tea run down the body. Loose lids shift when pouring, handles leave too little finger clearance, and uneven bases rock on a table. Glaze crazing and cracks can become visible after hot-water use. A decorative sample can conceal these functional problems.
Spouts and handles are vulnerable in transit, especially when a lid can strike the body inside the pack. Another problem is a migration report for a different glaze or decoration. Match production samples and documents before shipment, then record arrival damage and carton condition.
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 teapots from China?
The supplied tariff facts show 12% customs duty under 6911 10 00 90, plus residual anti-dumping duty of 36.10%. Check whether a company-specific exporter rate applies.
What food contact documents should I request?
Request a written declaration of compliance and supporting lead and cadmium migration documentation matching the supplied porcelain, glaze and decoration.
How do I check whether a teapot pours properly?
Test a filled production sample through the full pour. Check dripping, handle clearance and whether the lid remains seated, including when the pot is nearly empty.
Can a sample prove a teapot is dishwasher safe?
Agree a cleaning test matching the proposed claim and inspect glaze, decoration and lid fit afterwards. Visual inspection of an unused sample does not establish cleaning performance.