Sourcing stoneware dinnerware from China
Stoneware dinnerware from China carries 4% ordinary UK duty, plus company-specific anti-dumping duty or the residual 36.10%. Confirm the applicable food-contact compliance paperwork and lead and cadmium migration requirements with the relevant authority. Specify the body, glaze and decoration before testing. Cambridge China Bridge sources stoneware dinnerware.
Duty on stoneware dinnerware
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 3 October 2026, heading 6912 covers ceramic household articles other than porcelain or china. Stoneware dinnerware falls within 6912 00 23 10: ordinary duty is 4%, with residual anti-dumping duty of 36.10% for goods from China. Check the supplier's company-specific rate. No suspension or countervailing duty is listed for this line. The table separates products sharing this code.
The tariff attaches an import waste control. Waste shipment controls apply only if the goods are waste. For waste from China entering England under notification controls, the exporter must apply to the dispatch authority and obtain consent from the authorities involved before shipping. Ask your customs broker to confirm requirements if the consignment contains waste. The tariff also lists waste export controls and a cultural-object export licence measure; confirm these before any onward export.
Confirm the material and intended use through finding your commodity code, rather than relying on a supplier's description of all ceramics as stoneware. See homeware and kitchenware for the wider range.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stoneware dinner plates | 6912 00 23 10 | 4% | 36.10% residual anti-dumping |
Specify the body, glaze and matching set
Specify the stoneware body, fired dimensions, plate profile, bowl capacity, weight, foot-ring finish and stacking fit. Approve a matching set showing glaze colour, gloss, speckling and decoration placement. Agree acceptable variation using physical samples, particularly for reactive glazes.
Food contact ceramics are subject to lead and cadmium migration limits and require a written declaration of compliance and supporting documentation, as explained in our food contact materials guide. Request reports matching the actual body, glaze and decoration. Agree dishwasher, microwave or oven claims and sample checks before printing them on packaging.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 2,000 stoneware dinner plates; anti-dumping duty must also be included under 6912 00 23 10, invoiced at £7,000 free on board, with £600 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £7,600. Duty at 4% is £304. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £7,904, so it is £1,580.80. Import taxes total £1,884.80; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £304 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Body and shape: compare dimensions and weight with approved samples; check rocking plates, distorted rims and stacking fit.
Glaze and decoration: check colour across the set, crazing, pinholes, bare patches and decoration alignment.
Contact surfaces: inspect rims for chips and sharp edges, and foot rings for rough areas that scratch tables or stacked pieces.
Documents and packing: match declarations and reports to the supplied designs; open cartons on arrival and check separators, movement and concealed breakage.
What goes wrong
A sample set can match while production plates and bowls arrive in different shades. Warped plates rock, rough feet scratch adjacent pieces, and glaze defects collect staining. Loose packing lets rims strike each other, leaving chips hidden inside apparently sound cartons.
A report for an undecorated sample does not establish the performance of a changed glaze or decorated range. Freeze the approved specification, agree how changes will be reviewed, and inspect the production lot before dispatch. See quality inspection explained.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on stoneware dinnerware from China?
Ordinary duty is 4% under 6912 00 23 10, plus company-specific anti-dumping duty or the residual 36.10%. No suspension is listed for this line.
What food contact documents should I request?
Request a written declaration of compliance and supporting lead and cadmium migration documentation matching the supplied body, glaze and decoration.
Can I accept colour variation in reactive glazes?
Agree the acceptable range with physical samples showing lighter and darker finishes. Compare plates, bowls and mugs together so the complete set remains acceptable.
How do I reduce chipped plates on arrival?
Agree separators and cushioning that prevent rims touching, check packed samples, inspect cartons before dispatch and open cartons on arrival to find concealed damage.