Sourcing steel cocktail shakers from China

UK duty on stainless steel cocktail shakers

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 8 October 2026, heading 7323 covers table, kitchen and other household articles of iron or steel. Stainless steel cocktail shakers fall within the other stainless steel articles line, 7323 93 00 90, subject to confirmation of the actual construction. The table shows shaker variants sharing that line, rather than separate tariff subdivisions.

The supplied tariff record gives 0% ordinary duty for goods from China under this line, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension recorded. It attaches import and export waste controls. Waste shipment controls apply only where the material is waste. For a shipment from China classified as waste and subject to notification controls, the exporter starts the consent application in China; shipment to England requires consent from the Environment Agency and the other competent authorities involved.

Ask your customs broker to confirm the waste-control position for your shipment, particularly for scrap or rejected stock. Confirm the commodity code using the shaker's materials, construction and contents of any retail set before ordering.

Specify the tins, seal and food-contact surfaces

Choose paired tins, a fitted lid, or an integral strainer and cap. Specify the stainless steel grade, wall thickness, usable capacity, rim profile, finish and any exterior coating. Approve a sample that seals during shaking with ice and opens afterwards without excessive force. Record whether components must interchange across the production batch.

Food-contact materials need to be safe and suitable for their intended use. Ask for evidence covering the finished shaker, including coatings or seals that contact drinks. Agree laboratory checks for the intended alcohol, citrus and cleaning conditions through testing and certification. Treat a steel material certificate as supporting material information, rather than evidence covering the complete finished shaker.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 3,000 stainless steel cocktail shakers; illustrative order, not a quotation under 7323 93 00 90, invoiced at £30,000 free on board, with £5,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £35,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £35,000, so it is £7,000. 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

Fit: check sealing with ice and water, opening after chilling, cap retention and interchangeability against the approved sample.

Surfaces: check rims and strainer holes for burrs, inspect the interior for polishing residue, and look for dents, scratches and coating defects.

Materials: match the agreed steel specification and finished-product test evidence to the supplied model and finish.

Packing: check complete component sets, protective sleeves, care information and carton condition during quality inspection.

What goes wrong

Tins can leak because their rims are distorted, or lock together after chilling because the fit is too tight. Caps can loosen during shaking, strainer holes can have sharp edges, and polishing residue can remain inside. Check production samples using the agreed shaking and cleaning procedure, rather than judging only the exterior finish.

A report for an uncoated sample may leave a decorated finish or a changed seal unexamined. Keep the approved sample, component specification and test evidence tied to the ordered model. Agree how the factory will report material or finish changes before production.

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.