Sourcing single-wall stainless bottles from China

UK duty on single-wall stainless steel bottles

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 6 December 2026, heading 7323 covers iron or steel table, kitchen and household articles and their parts, alongside steel wool and scourers. Single-wall stainless steel drinking bottles are candidates for 7323 93 00 90. The table shows bottle variants sharing that commodity line.

The supplied data records 0% duty for goods from China under this line, with no anti-dumping duty, countervailing duty or suspension. The UK Trade Tariff attaches import and export waste controls. Waste shipment controls only apply to waste. For bottles imported from China as discarded goods or scrap, confirm the applicable requirements with your customs broker before shipment.

Confirm the finished bottle's materials, construction and use through the commodity code guide. Give your broker photographs and a component breakdown. For vacuum-insulated products, see the vacuum flasks and tumblers guide.

Specify the bottle body, cap and seal

Specify single-wall construction, stainless steel grade, wall thickness, usable capacity, neck opening, thread and base shape. Identify the materials of the cap, drinking spout, gasket and any internal coating separately. Agree the external finish, artwork position and packing protection. Keep an approved sample with the production cap and gasket fitted.

Treat the complete bottle as a food contact article and obtain supporting material identification and test reports covering the body, cap, seal and any water-contact coating. Match the documents to the supplied model and intended drinks, temperatures and repeated use. See the food contact materials guide. Consumer bottles supplied in Great Britain must be safe in normal or reasonably foreseeable use.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 900 single-wall stainless steel water bottles; illustrative whole-pound FOB and freight values under 7323 93 00 90, invoiced at £7,500 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £8,400. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £8,400, so it is £1,680. 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

Body and interior: compare material records, dimensions and thickness with the specification; inspect the neck, seams and base for sharp edges, dents, rust spots and polishing residue.

Cap and seal: fill sampled bottles, close them as instructed and check for leakage when inverted and carried; repeat after opening, closing and cleaning. Check gasket seating and thread engagement.

Drinking and cleaning: check lip smoothness, spout operation and access for cleaning. Remove and refit seals where intended, then repeat the leak check using the agreed conditions.

Finish and arrival: compare printing and colour with the approved sample; inspect unpacked stock for scratches, distorted necks and loose caps. Agree the sampling brief through quality inspection.

What goes wrong

A bottle can pass a standing leak check but leak in a bag because the gasket moves or the cap thread engages unevenly. A replacement cap or seal can also change the materials in contact with the drink. Ask the factory to obtain your agreement before changing these components, and match supporting documents to production stock.

Narrow necks can conceal polishing residue and rough internal seams. Thin bodies dent in transit, while printing may rub off during cleaning. Test the agreed cleaning method and packed product, retain the approved sample and repeat functional checks on arrival. Avoid making heat-retention claims based solely on the bottle's metal appearance.

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.