News for UK importers
What's moving in importing.
Shipping and freight rates, factories in China, trade fairs, UK import rules and the pound against the dollar. Short, sourced, and written for businesses bringing in full containers from China.
Pound up 1.1% against the dollar
£1 bought $1.3656 on 21 Aug, up from $1.3504 on 10 Aug. Dollar invoices now cost less in pounds.
Deposits and balances: protecting payments to new suppliers
Paying a new overseas supplier carries fraud risk. Check who you are paying, choose a payment method that fits the order, and verify any change to bank details independently.
Guangdong raises minimum wages from 1 September, including Foshan and Dongguan
Guangdong's provincial government has raised minimum wages from 1 September 2026. Monthly rates rise to 2,300 yuan in Foshan, Dongguan, Zhuhai and Zhongshan, 2,680 yuan in Guangzhou and 2,700 yuan in Shenzhen.
Typhoon Dolphin shuts Shanghai and Ningbo terminals, adding to delays
Terminals at Shanghai and Ningbo suspended operations on 7 and 8 August as Typhoon Dolphin struck East China. Both ports reopened by 11 August, but backlogs are expected to take weeks to clear.
Paid for moulds or tooling? It may belong in your customs value
If you pay for moulds, tools or design work used to make your goods, HMRC treats them as assists. Their value must be added to the price when working out customs value.
Pound up 1.0% against the dollar
£1 bought $1.3504 on 10 Aug, up from $1.3368 on 22 Jul. Dollar invoices now cost less in pounds.
Typhoon Dolphin hits Zhejiang as Wenzhou suspends work and production
Typhoon Dolphin made landfall at Yuhuan in Zhejiang on the evening of 9 August. Wenzhou ordered a citywide halt to work, production and transport, and Zhejiang suspended port operations.
China's July exports rise 23.9%, with shipments to the EU up about 16%
China's exports rose 23.9% year on year in July to about $397.9 billion, a little slower than June. Exports to the EU grew about 16%, while technology goods drove most of the gain.
Customs value: which freight and port charges to include
Duty is charged on the cost of the goods delivered to the UK port, not just the supplier's price. Knowing which charges go in, and which stay out, stops you paying duty on UK costs.
China's factory surveys diverge in July as the official PMI falls to 49.2
The official manufacturing PMI fell to 49.2 in July from 50.3, back below the 50 line that separates growth from contraction. The private RatingDog index stayed in growth at 50.9 but hit a four-month low.
Shanghai to Rotterdam spot rates keep falling as peak demand eases
Drewry's Shanghai to Rotterdam rate fell 3% to $4,677 per 40ft on 30 July. Carriers are blanking sailings to slow the decline, and several plan emergency fuel surcharges from August.
Postponed VAT accounting: using your monthly statement
Postponed VAT accounting lets VAT-registered importers account for import VAT on the VAT return instead of paying it at the border. You need the monthly statement, and each one is only online for six months.
Typhoon Noul halts work and production across 12 Guangdong cities
Typhoon Noul, the strongest storm to make landfall in China so far this year, came ashore in Huizhou early on 26 July. Twelve Guangdong cities, including Guangzhou and Dongguan, suspended work, production and transport.
Anti-dumping duties on bicycles from China kept until 2029
The Trade Remedies Authority has kept anti-dumping duties of 19.2% to 48.5% on bicycles and some bicycle parts from China. The measure will stay in place until 30 August 2029.
Houthis declare ban on ships trading with Saudi ports
Yemen's Houthis told shipping companies on 20 July that vessels loading or discharging at Saudi ports were banned and could be attacked. Analysts see the main risk falling on oil cargoes rather than container lines.
Canton Fair confirms autumn 2026 dates, with furniture and garden in Phase 2
The 140th China Import and Export Fair runs in three phases in Guangzhou from 15 October to 4 November. Phase 2, from 23 to 27 October, covers furniture, gardening products, home decorations and building materials.
Pound down 1.1% against the dollar
£1 bought $1.3368 on 22 Jul, down from $1.3511 on 16 Jul. Dollar invoices now cost more in pounds.
TRA reviews anti-dumping duties on Chinese ceramic tableware and kitchenware
The Trade Remedies Authority has opened an interim review of the 13% to 36% anti-dumping duties on ceramic tableware and kitchenware from China, to test whether they are still enough.
Getting the commodity code right, and when to ask HMRC for a ruling
Your commodity code sets the duty rate, import VAT and any anti-dumping duty. If the right code is unclear, an Advance Tariff Ruling gives you a legally binding answer.
HMRC sets out CBAM registration test and lists of goods covered
HMRC has published who must register for the UK Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, which starts on 1 January 2027, using a £50,000 threshold. It has also listed the steel, aluminium and other goods in scope.
You're not on your own. We chase it for you.
Portside chases your factory, forwarder and the port, and shows every container move through eight clear stages. If you're planning your first container, we're happy to talk it through.