Sourcing replacement marker nibs from China

Duty and suspension for replacement nibs

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 9608 covers writing instruments and their parts. Replacement felt and other porous marker tips without an internal canal are described under 9608 91 00 20. Non-fibrous plastic tips with an internal canal have a separate line. Other nibs and separately supplied parts need their own classification. For complete pens, see permanent marker pens.

The listed lines carry normal duty of 2% for goods from China, with no recorded anti-dumping or countervailing duty. Codes 9608 91 00 10 and 9608 91 00 20 also show an autonomous tariff suspension at 0.00 %. Its footnote excludes mixtures, preparations and products made up of different components containing these products. Confirm eligibility for the goods as supplied rather than assuming a nib assembly qualifies.

The snapshot attaches CITES import and export controls to the other-nib and other-parts lines, and export controls to the specified tip lines. Importing CITES specimens requires a permit. If materials raise a CITES question, confirm the requirement for the China shipment with your customs broker. Send drawings, material details, canal construction and the supplied assembly to your broker to confirm the commodity code.

Specify the nib and its matching marker

Specify felt, bonded fibre or non-fibrous plastic construction; internal canal or porous structure; tip profile; shank diameter; insertion length; exposed length; and the marker models it must fit. Agree dimensional tolerances against a drawing and retain an approved sample. State whether nibs arrive dry or inked and whether holders are included.

Identify the ink formulation and intended writing surfaces. Test the nib in your actual marker with your actual ink for uptake, line continuity, fraying and swelling. Specify bullet, chisel or brush profiles separately. General product safety rules cover products intended for, or foreseeably used by, consumers; assess loose-part and replacement-use risks before retail sale.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 20,000 other replacement marker nibs, illustrative only under 9608 91 00 90, invoiced at £2,500 free on board, with £590 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £3,090. Duty at 2% is £61.80. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £3,151.80, so it is £630.36. Import taxes total £692.16; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £61.80 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Dimensions and fit: measure shanks and tips against the drawing, fit samples into the intended marker and check insertion, retention and seating.

Ink performance: use the agreed ink and writing surface to check wetting, skipping, flooding and consistent line shape after storage.

Tip condition: inspect for loose fibres, chipped edges, uneven cutting and deformation; repeat writing checks after normal replacement handling.

Packing and identity: check profile, compatible model, batch identification and pack counts; inspect arrival stock for contamination or crushed tips. Record results at quality inspection.

What goes wrong

A nib can match the visible shape but have the wrong shank or ink flow. Loose tips retreat into the barrel, tight tips damage the holder, and a different fibre structure causes dry starts or flooding. Solvent exposure can change tip shape or loosen fibres.

Approve the nib as part of the working marker, then compare production and arrival samples with that assembly. Keep dry replacement tips separate from inked assemblies in the specification and customs description; the suspension footnote makes supplied construction relevant.

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.