What are the typical import duties, logistics costs, and practical options for importing glass bottles from European suppliers?

Import duties on glass are minimal—members report tens of pounds per pallet rather than significant tariffs. The major cost driver is transport: a single pallet can cost £450, making full truck loads significantly more cost-effective. Members using postponed import VAT accounting avoid upfront VAT; ask suppliers for proof of country of origin to enable this.

**Supplier & logistics options:** - **Estal** — popular choice with good stock availability and fast turnarounds; they're opening a UK depot (timeline vague at time of discussion), but smaller orders may not be included in early shipments. Contact **Jonathan Clark** (jonathanc@continentalbottle.co.uk) who handles UK distribution for Estal and may offer better pricing for smaller quantities than direct ordering. - **IP21** — recommended for European sourcing; generally straightforward to work with (not the quickest) and will direct you to **Davies Turner** for import logistics, who members report are good to work with. - **KC Shipping** — noted as the cheapest and reliable freight option at time of discussion, undercutting other providers by hundreds of pounds; they maintain good stock availability. - **Saver Glass** — one member paid £35 import duty on a pallet.

**Caveats:** Estal's textured glass with cold-end coating and embossing can have label adhesion difficulties. One member warned that Estal "don't always stick to agreements even if signed" regarding stock delivery. Berlin Packaging was cited as a cautionary tale for poor-quality glass. For NPD trials with small quantities (e.g., 2 pallets), transport costs become a significant proportion of total spend.