Sourcing wooden boxes and carved ornaments from China
Wooden ornaments, jewellery boxes, caskets and marquetry from China pay 0% UK duty for most woods, 2% for articles of specified tropical wood, and 4% for wood marquetry and inlaid wood, with no anti-dumping duty. Timber from CITES-listed species, such as some rosewoods, needs permits, and finishes, hinges and mirrors must be safe. Cambridge China Bridge sources them.
Buying from China for a business? How our UK China sourcing agent service works · China sourcing agent for small orders and first imports
Duty by type and wood
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 25 September 2026, wooden statuettes and other ornaments carried 0% duty on goods from China except those of specified tropical wood, which carried 2%; wood marquetry and inlaid wood carried 4%; and caskets, jewellery and cutlery boxes and similar articles carried 0%, or 2% in specified tropical wood. None had an anti-dumping measure. For original sculpture, see our guide to original prints and sculpture.
Wooden furniture is in chapter 94; confirm the commodity code with the timber species.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statuettes of specified tropical wood, not hand-made | 4420 11 10 90 | 2% | None |
| Statuettes of other tropical wood | 4420 11 90 00 | 0% | None |
| Statuettes and ornaments of other wood | 4420 19 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Wood marquetry and inlaid wood | 4420 90 10 00 | 4% | None |
| Boxes and caskets of specified tropical wood, other | 4420 90 91 99 | 2% | None |
| Boxes and caskets of other wood, other | 4420 90 99 90 | 0% | None |
Protected species and safety
Some timber species, including many rosewoods, are listed under CITES, and the Control of Trade in Endangered Species Regulations 2018 require the right permits to import them into Great Britain. Ask for the species name, not a trade name, before ordering. Boxes with mirrors, hinges and locks must be safe under general product safety law, and paints and lacquers should be checked against UK REACH restrictions.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 5,000 wooden jewellery boxes under 4420 90 99 90, invoiced at £9,000 free on board, with £800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £9,800. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £9,800, so it is £1,960. 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
Timber: measure moisture content on samples at packing with a meter used as in EN 13183-2, check species against the declared name and any CITES paperwork, and inspect for mould, insect holes, splits and warping. For wooden frames, see our wooden picture frame sourcing guide.
Finish: test lacquer adhesion with a cross-cut test to ISO 2409, check that finishes are fully cured with no odour or tackiness, and ask for formaldehyde emission results to EN 717-1 where MDF or plywood parts are used. For boxes marketed as toys, EN 71-3 migration tests on paints can help demonstrate compliance with chemical safety requirements.
Hardware and packing: cycle-test hinges and clasps, check lid fit and closing gap, check lining attachment, and confirm desiccant, bag and carton packing that keeps moisture off the goods in a warm container.
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What goes wrong
Wooden boxes fail through moisture and finish. Timber that is not dried to the right moisture content warps, splits and grows mould in transit; lacquer that is not cured sticks and smells; hinges misalign so lids do not close; and velvet linings are glued unevenly. Carved ornaments crack along the grain.
Specify moisture content, finish, hinge and lining, and pack with desiccant. At inspection, check lid fit and hinges, mould, cracks and odour, and compare grain and colour with the approved sample.
Cambridge China Bridge sources jewellery boxes, gift caskets and carved wooden ornaments, with species, finish and moisture control settled before the order. See how our sourcing service works. For the reverse trade route, see exporting UK home decor to China.
Related guides: Sourcing wooden picture frames from China.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on wooden jewellery boxes from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 25 September 2026, wooden boxes and caskets carried 0% duty from China, or 2% if made of specified tropical wood.
What duty applies to marquetry?
Wood marquetry and inlaid wood carried 4% from China on 25 September 2026.
Do rosewood boxes need permits?
Many rosewoods are CITES-listed, so imports need the right permits under the 2018 endangered species regulations.
Why do wooden boxes arrive mouldy?
Timber was not dried to the right moisture content or packed with desiccant.