Sourcing wooden dunnage frames from China
Wooden dunnage frames classified under heading 4415 carry 0% UK duty from China across the supplied lines. Solid-wood frames for ordinary cargo entering Great Britain need ISPM 15 treatment and marking, including when supplied empty. Check timber legality before buying frames as products. Cambridge China Bridge sources wooden dunnage frames.
Duty and classification for dunnage frames
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, all supplied lines under heading 4415 carry 0% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duties and no suspensions recorded. The heading covers wooden packing cases and similar packings, cable drums, pallets, other load boards and pallet collars. A dunnage frame needs classification from its construction and function.
The tariff attaches CITES import and export controls to 4415 10 10 00. Check the timber species, as permits are required for species in the relevant CITES annexes; confirm the China-to-GB documents with your customs broker. The supplied records also attach a cultural-goods export licence flag across the heading. Ask your broker to confirm any export requirements for your intended movements.
For a frame that forms similar wooden packing, investigate 4415 10 10 00; for a load-bearing base, investigate 4415 20 90 00. Send drawings and photographs when confirming the commodity code. The table includes flat pallets, collars and cable drums as wider-heading comparisons, not automatic frame classifications. See the wooden pallets and crates guide for those products.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cases, crates and similar wooden packings | 4415 10 10 00 | 0% | None |
| Box pallets and other wooden load boards | 4415 20 90 00 | 0% | None |
| Flat pallets and pallet collars, for comparison | 4415 20 20 00 | 0% | None |
| Wooden cable drums, for comparison | 4415 10 90 00 | 0% | None |
Specify the cargo contact points and frame joints
Give the factory a drawing showing the cargo contact points, bearing surfaces, frame dimensions, timber sections, braces and fasteners. State the cargo weight, centre of gravity, handling method and stacking arrangement. Agree how the frame will be tested with the intended load. Identify surfaces that need cushioning and positions where timber or exposed fasteners could damage the cargo.
For ordinary solid-wood frames imported into Great Britain, specify debarked timber, ISPM 15 treatment and marking, even when supplied empty. A certificate cannot replace the import mark. For frames sold as wooden packing products, confirm the applicable timber legality requirements with OPSS, using our wider guide as a starting point: gather species and harvest-origin information, assess legality risks and retain records. Confirm with OPSS whether packaging used only to carry other goods is outside that timber-regulation scope.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 2,000 wooden dunnage frames classified as similar wooden packings under 4415 10 10 00, invoiced at £18,000 free on board, with £3,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £21,500. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £21,500, so it is £4,300. 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
Fit: measure bearing positions, clearances and timber sections against the drawing; trial-fit the intended cargo or an agreed fixture.
Joints: check fastener type, length, placement and tightness; look for splits around fixings and test frame movement under the agreed load.
Timber: check moisture against the agreed specification, mould, insect damage, loose knots and distortion before loading and on arrival.
Marks and records: check treatment marks remain readable, compare the shipment with the timber species documents and request treatment records supporting the marks.
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What goes wrong
Frames can match the outside dimensions yet support the cargo in the wrong places. Narrow bearing faces concentrate the load, misplaced braces obstruct handling, and protruding fasteners damage the product. Wet timber can shrink or twist after assembly, loosening joints. Check the assembled frame rather than accepting photographs of loose timber.
A treatment stamp does not establish cargo fit or joint strength. Agree a sample fit and load check before production, then use inspection to compare the shipment with the approved drawing and sample. Keep frames accessible for an arrival check before they enter warehouse use.
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 wooden dunnage frames from China?
The supplied heading 4415 lines carry 0% duty from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspensions recorded. Confirm the frame's commodity code from its construction and function.
Do empty wooden dunnage frames need treatment marks?
Ordinary solid-wood packaging imported into Great Britain needs ISPM 15 treatment and marking, including empty frames supplied to businesses. A certificate cannot replace the mark.
What should I send a Chinese dunnage frame factory?
Send a drawing, cargo contact points, weight, centre of gravity, handling and stacking details, timber sections, fastener details and the agreed fit and load-test method.
Does timber due diligence apply to dunnage frames?
Confirm with OPSS whether timber legality requirements apply when wooden packing is placed on the GB market as a product. Gather species and harvest-origin information and assess legality risks. Ask OPSS to confirm whether packaging used only to carry other goods is outside that scope.