Sourcing wine from China
Wine from China carries specific customs duties of £8.20 to £26.00 per hectolitre on the supplied volume-only lines; some stronger wines pay £1.40 per percentage point of alcohol per hectolitre. UK wine labelling rules apply, and organic imports need certification. Cambridge China Bridge sources wine.
Buying from China for a business? How our UK China sourcing agent service works · China sourcing agent for small orders and first imports
Specific customs duties on grape wine
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 18 November 2026, heading 2204 covers wine of fresh grapes, including fortified wines, and grape must other than that of heading 2009. Specify sparkling or still wine, colour, alcoholic strength, origin and container capacity before choosing a line.
The supplied China duty lines range from £8.20 to £26.00 per hectolitre where duty depends on volume alone. Some stronger wines carry £1.40 per percentage point of alcohol per hectolitre. No supplied line records anti-dumping or countervailing duty or a suspension. Customs duty and Alcohol Duty are separate; settle the excise route before shipping.
The tariff attaches an organic import control. Organic goods need a certificate of inspection; the exporter’s control body issues it. A supplied restricted subheading concerns designated Tunisian wines: confirm its requirements with your broker rather than use it for Chinese-origin wine. Confirm the commodity code against the complete goods description.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other varietal sparkling wine | 2204 10 96 90 | £26.00 per hl | None |
| Varietal white wine, up to 13% alcohol, containers up to 2 litres | 2204 21 95 11 | £10.00 per hl | None |
| Other white wine, over 13% up to 15% alcohol, containers over 2 up to 10 litres | 2204 22 97 20 | £10.00 per hl | None |
| Other non-white wine, up to 13% alcohol, containers over 2 up to 10 litres | 2204 22 98 61 | £8.20 per hl | None |
| Other white wine, over 13% up to 15% alcohol, containers over 10 litres | 2204 29 97 20 | £10.00 per hl | None |
| Other non-white wine, up to 13% alcohol, containers over 10 litres | 2204 29 98 61 | £8.20 per hl | None |
Specify the wine and its sales route
Agree grape variety, growing region, vintage claims, colour, sweetness, acidity, alcoholic strength and any fortification. Keep an approved tasting sample and request a batch analysis covering strength, sulphites and any milk or egg fining agents. Specify bottle or bulk format, closure, fill quantity, case dividers and transport protection.
Wine sold in the UK must comply with wine labelling rules. Check alcoholic strength, net quantity, business details and allergen information before printing. Direct imports from China into Northern Ireland need an EU wine import certificate. Confirm the destination and label requirements before approving artwork.
If selling alcohol wholesale in the UK, confirm with HMRC whether approval under the Alcohol Wholesaler Registration Scheme is required. Agree whether Alcohol Duty will be paid on import or the wine will enter an excise warehouse. Review the costing method in our duty and VAT guide.
Inspection checklist
Wine: compare batch samples with the approved sample for aroma, flavour, colour and unexpected haze; check analysis against the specification.
Closures: check cork seating, screw-cap damage, leakage, fill consistency and bottle cracks on arrival.
Labels: compare every variant with approved artwork, including strength, quantity, business details, allergens and origin claims.
Traceability: match batch identifiers to analysis and shipping documents; inspect case dividers, crushed cartons and pallet movement. Use our quality inspection guide.
What goes wrong
Watch for a tasting sample that does not represent the shipment, oxidised flavours, leaking closures and damaged bottles. Record arrival condition before unpacking, keep affected batches identifiable and agree how discrepancies will be assessed.
Costing can go wrong when a buyer treats a specific customs duty as a percentage or omits Alcohol Duty. The supplied lines contain no plain percentage duty, so a percentage-duty worked example cannot be supported. Check organic paperwork and label artwork before dispatch.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on wine from China?
The supplied lines carry £8.20 to £26.00 per hectolitre, or £1.40 per percentage point of alcohol per hectolitre on some stronger wines. The rate depends on the code; Alcohol Duty is separate.
Can I use the same code for bottled and bulk wine?
Container capacity affects classification. Give your broker the wine type, colour, alcoholic strength, origin and capacity rather than copying a supplier’s code.
What paperwork does organic Chinese wine need?
Organic imports need a certificate of inspection. The exporter’s control body issues it. Ask your customs broker to confirm the tariff control and supporting paperwork before dispatch.
What should I check when Chinese wine arrives?
Check flavour against the approved sample, batch analysis, leakage, cracked bottles, fill consistency, label artwork and carton damage. Match batch identifiers to shipment documents.