Importing from China
China makes most of the world’s stationery and office supplies, from notebooks and pens to binders, planners and small desktop devices. It’s a very broad, bulky category with low value per kilo, so the game is won on the volume it takes up and on a couple of details most people miss: some items carry a battery (calculators, label makers, shredders) and children’s school supplies may face safety rules. Here’s how it ships, which taxes and certificates apply, and the critical points that keep your shipment surprise-free.
Stationery is bulky and low-value per kilo, so cost is driven by volume (CBM). The natural route is sea freight: groupage (LCL) for small or assorted orders, sharing a container with other importers, and a full container (FCL) as soon as you build up volume—a shop or wholesale order fills a container easily and sharply lowers the per-unit cost.
Air freight only pays off for samples or urgent top-ups: billed by volume, flying paper is expensive. Mind the packaging: paper and card are sensitive to the moisture of a sea voyage (ask for shrink-wrap and well-strapped pallets), and battery devices must be well protected. If your order includes lithium-battery items (see below), tell us: it changes the shipping paperwork.
Stationery spreads across HS codes by material: paper and card (notebooks, pads, cardboard files) in chapter 48, pens and markers in heading 9608, plastic office items in 3926, and small devices (calculators 8470, label makers, shredders) in chapters 84/85. The EU import duty is usually low (roughly 0 % up to a moderate rate depending on the heading), but confirm the exact code with your broker, as it changes the rate.
Import VAT is recoverable if you import as a business with your EORI and the customs entry is in your name. Electrical or electronic devices (calculators, label makers, shredders) need CE marking and, being electronics, RoHS compliance; children’s school supplies that go in the mouth or touch skin can fall under REACH (substances) and, if treated as a toy, EN 71. These aren’t "customs papers", but without them you can’t place the product on the market.
Calculators, label makers, shredders or desk clocks may carry button cells or lithium batteries. Lithium ones are dangerous goods (DG) and need specific paperwork (UN 3480/3481, a data sheet and sometimes UN 38.3). Tell us before shipping: it barely changes the price, but it does change the documents.
Crayons, finger paints, modelling clay or coloured erasers aimed at children can fall under toy rules (EN 71) and REACH because of skin or mouth contact. Ask the supplier for the relevant test reports; that’s what protects you in an inspection.
Any electrical device (even a plug-in calculator or a shredder) must carry CE marking and a declaration of conformity. Confirm it with the maker: it’s common, but not always included on very cheap items.
Paper travels for weeks by sea and is sensitive to moisture and crushing. Good packaging (film, edge protectors, strapped pallets) stops it arriving wavy or damaged; all-risk insurance is worth considering and very cheap.
For stationery, the usual choice is sea freight (groupage or full container). We also handle customs clearance. Tell us what items you’re bringing (especially anything with a battery) and we’ll advise you.
Note: duties, thresholds and rules (CE, RoHS, REACH, EN 71, battery transport) can change and depend on the specific item and destination country. This guide describes the general situation at the time of writing; confirm with your customs broker before deciding.
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