Sourcing silicone ice cube trays from China
Silicone ice cube trays entered as other kitchenware under heading 3924 carry 6% UK duty from China, with no trade remedy on that line. Food-contact controls need checking against the actual materials, including lids and frames. Agree freezer performance and release tests. Cambridge China Bridge sources silicone ice cube trays.
Duty and the kitchenware declaration control
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, heading 3924 covers plastic tableware, kitchenware, household and hygienic articles. For this guide, the relevant candidate is other tableware and kitchenware, 3924 10 00 90, at 6% for goods from China. The table shows tray designs sharing that candidate code, rather than separate tariff lines.
The supplied tariff record shows no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension on this line. It attaches a restriction on entry into free circulation referring to a declaration of compliance for plastic food-contact materials. Confirm the requirement for the actual silicone tray and any plastic components with your customs broker before shipment.
Provide the broker with the composition, photographs and intended use to confirm the commodity code. Do not apply the ironing-board trade remedy to ice trays. See silicone bakeware for the wider heading.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silicone ice cube trays with square cavities | 3924 10 00 90 | 6% | None |
Specify the silicone, cavities and lid
Food-contact regulations cover materials and articles expected to contact food or transfer constituents to it. Agree a material and testing brief for the actual tray, colourants, lid and supporting frame. Ask for reports identifying the supplied formulation and intended use; a generic supplier statement saying food grade is insufficient purchasing evidence.
Specify cavity shape and capacity, overall dimensions, wall thickness, silicone hardness, colour and surface finish. Agree freezer storage, cleaning instructions and whether dishwasher use is claimed. Trial filled trays for stability during carrying, stacking and freezing, then check cube release without tearing.
Identify any food-contact polyamide or melamine components. Official guidance for those kitchenware materials from China requires a consignment declaration and laboratory report, advance notification and entry through designated border control posts. Have the broker confirm whether those procedures apply to your design.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 2,000 silicone ice cube trays; FOB and freight values are illustrative. under 3924 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 6% is £456. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £8,056, so it is £1,611.20. Import taxes total £2,067.20; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £456 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Material records: match the tray, lid, frame and colour to the approved sample and supporting reports.
Freezing and release: fill, freeze and release cubes; check splitting, distortion and water spilling during carrying.
Lids and stacking: check fit before and after freezing, stable stacking and whether the lid performs the agreed spill-control function.
Finish and packing: check cavity edges, moulding flash, contamination, lingering odour and deformation after unpacking. Record arrival defects against the inspection checklist.
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What goes wrong
Thin cavity bases can tear during release, unsupported trays can spill when carried, and lids can loosen or distort after freezing. Strong odour, rough mould seams and inconsistent hardness are reasons to investigate a batch against the approved sample.
An attractive sample does not establish that production uses the same formulation. Approve the complete retail set, agree repeated freezing and cleaning trials, and compare production records and samples before accepting shipment.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on silicone ice cube trays from China?
The supplied tariff record gives 6% for other tableware and kitchenware under 3924 10 00 90, with no trade remedy or suspension on that line. Confirm classification for the complete product.
Does a silicone ice tray need food-contact checks?
Food-contact regulations cover articles expected to contact food. Agree checks for the supplied silicone formulation, colourants and any lid or frame, supported by reports matching the product.
Does every silicone tray need the China kitchenware declaration?
The tariff attaches a declaration control to the candidate line. The special China guidance concerns polyamide and melamine kitchenware. Ask your broker to confirm what applies to the tray and its components.
How do I check that cubes release easily?
Freeze water in production samples and release the cubes using the intended method. Compare effort, tearing and permanent distortion with the approved sample, including after repeated cleaning.