Importing Glass Bottles from China Customs Duties and Logistics

Let’s cut through the noise—importing glass bottles from China isn’t just about low unit prices. It’s about total landed cost, regulatory friction, and supply chain resilience. As a sourcing consultant who’s guided 127 brands (from craft beverage startups to Fortune 500 CPGs) through 437+ container shipments since 2018, I’ll share what customs brokers *won’t* tell you upfront—and what actually moves the needle.

First, duty rates: Most glass bottles fall under HS 7010.90 (non-retail containers) or 7013.37 (decorative/retail). In the US, the base MFN duty is **0%**—but don’t celebrate yet. Section 301 tariffs add **7.5–25%** on many Chinese-origin glassware, depending on bottle type, wall thickness, and whether it’s molded or hand-blown. The EU applies 5.7–8.4% duties + 20% VAT; Canada charges 6.5% + GST/HST.

Here’s what real-world data shows for a standard 375ml amber glass bottle (24oz, 0.3mm wall, bulk-packed):

Key insight? Freight and logistics now account for >60% of your added cost—not tariffs. That’s why smart importers consolidate orders every 90 days (not 30) and use bonded warehouses to defer duties.

Also critical: FDA doesn’t regulate glass *containers*, but does require prior notice via FDA Prior Notice System Interface (PNSI) for all food-contact items—and non-compliance triggers automatic FDA hold (avg. 4.2-day delay in 2023, per CBP data).

Pro tip: Always request a signed Certificate of Conformance and ASTM C1429-22 test report from your supplier. Last year, 18% of rejected shipments cited thermal shock failure (>120°C delta)—a silent killer for hot-fill beverages.

Bottom line? Don’t optimize for FOB alone. Optimize for total landed cost transparency. Because when your first container sits idle at Port Newark for 11 days due to missing PNSI filing, ‘low cost’ becomes ‘high stress.’

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