Sourcing solid wood glazing beads from China
Solid wood glazing beads from China under heading 4409 carry 0% UK duty across the relevant species categories. Confirm the importer's timber legality due-diligence obligations for the Great Britain market with the relevant authority; CITES checks depend on the species. Cambridge China Bridge sources solid wood glazing beads.
Zero duty, with species checks
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 4409 covers wood continuously shaped along its edges, ends or faces. Solid wood glazing beads fall within its shaped-wood categories according to species. The table separates pine and spruce examples sharing the coniferous code. See the solid wood architraves guide for the wider heading.
The relevant lines carry 0% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspensions recorded in the supplied tariff facts. They attach CITES import and export controls. For beads made from a CITES-listed specimen, an import permit is required for entry into Great Britain. Confirm the species and applicable documentation with APHA and your customs broker.
Ask your broker whether the exact species and origin make the beads regulated wood material for plant health purposes; regulated material requires a phytosanitary certificate. Confirm the commodity code using the species and profile drawing. For the illustrative order, follow the duty and VAT calculation.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pine glazing beads, continuously shaped | 4409 10 18 00 | 0% | None |
| Tropical wood glazing beads, continuously shaped | 4409 22 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Other non-coniferous wood glazing beads, continuously shaped | 4409 29 99 00 | 0% | None |
Specify the bead against the glazing rebate
Provide a section drawing showing the bead width, height, rebate contact face, glass contact face and visible profile. Identify the window or door rebate, glazing thickness, gasket or sealant arrangement and fixing method. Agree dimensional tolerances, usable lengths, straightness, knot and split acceptance, and whether finger joints are allowed. Trial-fit an approved sample with the intended glazing assembly before ordering.
Specify the timber species, moisture condition and whether beads arrive bare, primed or finished. Collect species, country of harvest and supporting legality documents before shipment. Confirm with the relevant authority how the UK Timber Regulations apply to placing these beads on the Great Britain market, including any information-gathering, risk-assessment and risk-mitigation obligations. Businesses reselling timber already on that market must keep supplier and trade-customer records.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 30,000 metres of non-tropical hardwood glazing beads under 4409 29 99 00, invoiced at £24,000 free on board, with £3,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £27,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £27,000, so it is £5,400. With no duty, the only import tax is the VAT, which a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Profile and fit: compare sections with the approved drawing and a profile template; trial-fit beads in the actual rebate with the intended glass and gasket.
Moisture and straightness: measure moisture across bundles against the agreed condition and drying records; check bow, twist and mitre closure on sample lengths.
Fixing and finish: trial the specified fixing method for splitting; inspect narrow edges for torn grain, knots, cracks, sanding damage and uneven primer.
Identity and packing: match species and bundle identification to the order and legality file; check usable lengths, crushed edges and moisture damage during inspection.
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What goes wrong
A bead can match the visible shape yet have the wrong contact face, leaving it proud of the frame or pressing unevenly against the glazing. Tool wear changes the profile during production, while bowed lengths leave open mitres. Check production samples against the rebate and glazing assembly rather than relying on a photograph.
Wet beads shrink after fitting, and knots or short grain near the fixing line cause splitting. Thick primer can conceal machining defects or interfere with fit. Agree acceptance samples for the finished bead, inspect material from different bundles and retain the species and harvest documents with the batch 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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on solid wood glazing beads from China?
The relevant heading 4409 lines carry 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff facts record no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspensions.
Do wooden glazing beads need CITES permits?
It depends on the species and specimen. The relevant tariff lines attach CITES controls. Check the scientific species name and applicable import documentation with APHA and your broker before shipment.
What drawing should I send a glazing bead factory?
Send a section drawing with contact faces, visible profile and tolerances, plus the rebate, glazing thickness, gasket or sealant arrangement and fixing method. Approve a trial-fitted sample.
Why do solid wood glazing beads split or leave gaps?
Moisture changes cause movement; knots and short grain can split around fixings. Bowed lengths and an incorrect profile leave gaps. Check moisture, straightness and fit against the approved sample.