Sourcing tomato paste from China

14%, with a narrow suspension

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 26 September 2026, tomatoes whole or in pieces, and tomato paste and purée at every dry matter content, carried 14% duty on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure. An autonomous suspension set duty at 0% until 31 December 2026 only for tomato paste in plastic or wooden bins holding 1,250 to 1,350 kg, with dry matter of 25% to 30%, a Brix value between 27 and 32, a Bostwick viscosity of 1.0 to 6.5 cm and a pH between 4 and 5, declared with document 9Y12. Ketchup and sauces are in heading 2103; see the soy sauce and condiments guide and confirm the commodity code.

Origin, quality and labels

Much Chinese tomato paste is shipped in drums for rediluting and repacking, and the country of origin rules for food labels mean the label must not mislead about where the tomatoes came from, so a product packed elsewhere from Chinese paste needs care with origin claims. Buyers also expect supply chain due diligence on where the tomatoes were grown and processed.

Paste is bought on Brix, Bostwick consistency, colour, pH and the Howard mould count, with pesticide residues within GB maximum levels and, for canned products, tin under the 200 mg/kg limit in Regulation 1881/2006. Ask for a certificate of analysis per lot and the plant's food safety certification; see food labelling and contact rules. For canned mushrooms, see our canned mushroom sourcing guide.

Worked duty example

A hypothetical shipment, not a quote: 20,000 kg of 28 to 30 Brix tomato paste in 220-litre aseptic drums under 2002 90 41 95, bought for £22,000 free on board with £3,000 of freight and insurance, so the customs value is £25,000. Duty at 14% is £3,500. Packed instead in bins of 1,250 to 1,350 kg meeting the suspension's dry matter, Brix, viscosity and pH specification and declared with document 9Y12, the same paste would pay 0% until 31 December 2026. Tomato paste is food and zero-rated for VAT, so no import VAT is due either way. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

What goes wrong

Tomato paste fails on specification, spoilage and origin. Brix and consistency drift from the contract so rediluted product is thin, Howard mould counts are high because rotten fruit went into the line, and aseptic bags leak or blow in the drum so the paste ferments. Colour is dull from overheating, pesticide residues exceed GB limits, and labels on repacked products imply an origin the tomatoes do not have.

Test each lot for Brix, Bostwick, colour, pH and Howard mould count against the contract before loading, check pesticide residues at an accredited laboratory, inspect aseptic bags and drums for leaks and swelling, check the plant's food safety certification and traceability to the growing area, and review origin wording on every repacked label.

Cambridge China Bridge sources tomato paste in drums and bins and canned tomatoes for food manufacturers and repackers, with lot testing and traceability agreed before shipment. See how we source tomato products. For other preserved vegetable ingredients, see our bamboo shoots and preserved vegetables guide.