Sourcing uncoated plotter paper rolls from China

Duty and classification for plotter rolls

Heading 4802 covers uncoated paper for writing, printing and other graphic purposes, including rolls. This guide concerns uncoated plotter rolls. Coated and thermal papers have separate headings. For the wider product family, see copier and printing paper.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, the relevant lines carry 0% duty on goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspensions or attached import controls for these lines. Timber due diligence for virgin-fibre paper still applies independently of that tariff listing.

The table covers rolls with no mechanical or chemi-mechanical fibre, or no more than 10% of total fibre weight from those processes. Its weight bands exclude decor-paper lines. Ask the mill for grammage, fibre composition and confirmation that the paper is uncoated, then confirm the commodity code.

Roll fit, winding and print performance

Specify roll width, usable length, core internal diameter, maximum outside diameter and winding direction against the intended plotter. Agree grammage and tolerances, shade, opacity, moisture, permitted splices and how splices are marked. Require an approved sample and a print trial using the buyer's machine, ink and normal drawing files.

For virgin-fibre paper placed on the Great Britain market, confirm the importer's timber due-diligence obligations with the relevant authority. Obtain fibre species, harvest origin and supporting legality documents before shipment. For product approval, keep the mill's batch test results alongside retained samples.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 1,500 rolls of uncoated plotter paper at 80 g/m² under 4802 55 90 90, invoiced at £21,000 free on board, with £3,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £24,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £24,000, so it is £4,800. 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

Dimensions: measure width, core bore and outside diameter; verify usable length and winding direction against the order.

Paper: check grammage, moisture, shade and opacity against approved samples; inspect for dust, wrinkles and damaged edges.

Machine trial: check feeding, curl, line sharpness, ink spread and drying with representative drawings on the intended plotter.

Arrival: inspect wrapping, crushed cores and wet cartons; match batch labels to mill results and fibre-source documents. Use the inspection guide to brief the inspector.

What goes wrong

A roll can have the right width but a core or outside diameter that does not fit the plotter. Loose winding, protruding layers and crushed cores disrupt feeding. Damp paper curls, dusty edges contaminate the machine, and a changed paper surface makes fine lines spread.

Short rolls and unmarked splices can escape a surface inspection. Agree length verification and splice checks before production, and repeat the print trial on production samples. Missing fibre-source documents also leave virgin-fibre timber due diligence unresolved.

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.