The global vape supply chain is facing major changes in 2026. For UK vape retailers and wholesalers importing products from China, two key developments will impact pricing and supply throughout the year.
The first change begins in April 2026, when China removes a long-standing 13% export VAT rebate on nicotine vaping products. Later in the year, the UK will introduce a new vaping products duty in October 2026.
Together, these two changes are expected to increase the cost of vaping products across the UK market.
For businesses buying vapes in bulk or importing directly from manufacturers, understanding these changes early can help you prepare and avoid disruptions.
China Removing the 13% Export Rebate (April 2026)
From 1 April 2026, Chinese manufacturers will no longer receive the 13% VAT export rebate on nicotine vaping products.
For many years, this rebate helped Chinese factories keep export prices low by refunding a portion of the VAT paid during production. It effectively worked as a cost advantage for exporters supplying global vape markets.
Once this rebate is removed, manufacturers will lose that pricing benefit. As a result, factories will need to adjust their pricing to account for the additional cost.
What this means for importers
For UK wholesalers and vape retailers importing products from China, this change will likely result in:
- Higher wholesale prices from manufacturers
- Increased production costs for nicotine vape products
- Slightly higher hardware and pod system prices
Because China produces the vast majority of the world’s vape hardware and pod systems, changes to export policies can have a noticeable impact across the entire industry.
Many importers may start seeing price adjustments from suppliers during 2026 as manufacturers adapt to the new policy.
Important Customer Notice
Due to the upcoming regulatory changes, stock availability may fluctuate significantly between now and October 2026.
As manufacturers adjust to the April 2026 export cost increase in China and prepare for the UK vape duty starting in October, supply across the industry may become less predictable.
We strongly recommend that our customers begin ordering larger quantities earlier than usual to secure stock ahead of these changes.
From October 2026, the new UK vape duty will increase the price of vape liquid products substantially. In many cases, the price of a single box will increase by approximately £22 due to the tax alone.
Planning stock early can help customers avoid supply shortages and protect margins before the new duty takes effect.
If you have any questions about wholesale orders or upcoming supply changes, the Buy Vapes Bulk team is here to help.