Sourcing Raw Hickory Nuts from China

Raw hickory nut duty and classification

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 0802 covers other nuts, fresh or dried, whether or not shelled or peeled. Its residual other-nuts line, 0802 99 90 00, carries 2% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension shown. The table presents product forms under that same provisional code, rather than separate tariff lines.

That line attaches import control of organic products. For an organic order, discuss the certificate of inspection with the exporter’s control body, which issues it. Have your customs broker confirm the applicable organic clearance requirements for goods from China before shipment.

Obtain the botanical species, ingredient statement and processing description before confirming the commodity code. Do not classify from the supplier’s English product name alone. For comparison with separately named nuts, see the walnuts and pine nuts guide. Confirm the VAT treatment of plain, unprocessed nuts sold as food with HMRC or your customs broker.

Specify the species, shell and kernel grade

Ask the supplier to identify the botanical species and growing origin alongside the name hickory. Specify raw, unseasoned goods, in shell or shelled, and whether kernels should be whole or broken. Agree colour, size grading, moisture, allowable shell fragments, insect damage and packaging against an approved sample.

Specify whether the nuts are intended for direct consumption or further sorting. Confirm the aflatoxin limits applicable to the intended use with the relevant food authority. Agree batch sampling and laboratory testing before shipment, together with a moisture-resistant pack and storage instructions. Include rancidity checks rather than accepting appearance alone.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative trial pallet of raw hickory kernels under 0802 99 90 00, invoiced at £2,500 free on board, with £2,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £5,000. Duty at 2% is £100. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £5,100, so it is £1,020. Import taxes total £1,120; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £100 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

Identity: match the species, raw condition and shell status to the approved sample and purchase documents.

Grade: inspect kernel colour, broken pieces, shell fragments, insect damage and foreign matter; crack sampled in-shell nuts to inspect the kernels.

Condition: check moisture against the contract, pack seals, condensation, mould and stale or rancid odours on arrival.

Batch evidence: match the sampled batch to the laboratory report and carton markings; review aflatoxin results before accepting stock.

What goes wrong

An ambiguous product name can conceal a different nut species or a seasoned product. An attractive sample can also conceal a bulk lot with more broken kernels, shell fragments or insect damage. Keep the botanical identity and defect acceptance criteria in the order, and inspect the actual shipment.

Poor drying, damaged packs and damp storage can leave mouldy or rancid kernels. A visual inspection cannot establish aflatoxin compliance. Confirm how to handle an over-limit lot with the relevant food authority before considering any blending with other stock. Hold suspect batches separately while reviewing laboratory results and supplier records.

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.