How to export Gaskets from the UK to China
Match each gasket to its Chinese tariff line, agree the import route with the buyer and price in duty and import VAT. Cross-border retail coverage is limited to 40169390 and personal use. Cambridge China Bridge's own staff in China find and check Chinese importers and distributors for UK brands.
Match the seal to the import route
To export gaskets and mechanical seals to China, match each item to its HS classification before agreeing the landed price. The relevant HS6 codes are 401693, 848410, 848420 and 848490. Give the buyer's customs broker the material, construction and whether it is an individual seal or a mixed set, so they can confirm the Chinese tariff line, import route and product requirements.
HMRC recorded £38.6m of UK goods exports to mainland China under HS 401693, 848410, 848420, 848490 in 2025 (2024: £34.9m, +10.7%). Exports to Hong Kong under the same codes were £16.7m. January to July 2026: £29.6m against £22.7m in the same months of 2025 (+30.2%).
The largest UK export line under these HS codes was 40169300, covering vulcanised rubber gaskets, washers and other seals, excluding hard rubber: £22.9m in 2025. These are HS-code totals, so use them as market context rather than sales of your particular seal design.
Build the Chinese border taxes into your quotation
The 2026 Customs Import and Export Tariff separates rubber seals into 40169310 and 40169390, with different MFN rates. Metal-composite joints, mechanical seals and mixed gasket sets have the provisional rates shown below. Duty and import VAT add to the buyer's landed cost and shape the price they can offer you.
The standard import VAT rate is 13%, subject to the law's exceptions. Its base is the customs value plus customs duty plus consumption tax. The importer's customs broker or adviser confirms whether consumption tax applies to these seals and whether any VAT exception applies to the shipment.
| Chinese tariff line | Rate |
|---|---|
| 40169310 | 8% |
| 40169390 | 15% |
| 84841000 | 5% |
| 84842000 | 5% |
| 84849000 | 5% |
Prepare the UK export declaration
For exports from England, Scotland or Wales, you need a GB EORI and the correct UK commodity code. Distinguish rubber seals under 40169300, metal-composite joints under 84841000, mechanical seals under 84842000 and mixed gasket sets under 84849000. The Chinese tariff line should be agreed separately with the buyer.
Declare the export through the online export declaration service. Prepare the value, weight, packaging, destination, transport details and invoice and packing list references. The carrier needs the invoice and any applicable export licences or certificates; settle the shipment's document requirements with the buyer before dispatch.
Use cross-border retail only for eligible personal orders
Cross-border e-commerce coverage is partial: the retail import list includes 40169390 for other vulcanised rubber gaskets, washers and seals. Do not extend that entry to every rubber seal, mechanical seal or mixed set. The single-transaction limit is RMB 5,000 and the annual limit is RMB 26,000 per person.
Consumers must accept a risk notice before ordering. It explains that goods meet origin-country standards but may differ from Chinese standards, may lack a Chinese label, and have a Chinese electronic label available on the website. The seals are for personal use and may not be resold, so this route cannot supply a distributor's resale stock.
The overseas business carries the main product quality and safety responsibility. It must appoint a mainland-registered company to register with customs, declare truthfully and share civil liability. Factor that appointment into any eligible retail plan.
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Find and check the Chinese buyer
Our own staff in China find and check Chinese importers and distributors for UK brands. If a buyer has already approached you about these seals, our staff in China check that company before stock is sent or anything is signed. Use our export service for this work.
Agree which seal specifications and tariff lines the buyer intends to import before settling the order. We check product requirements with licensed partners in China. The importer of record and any required cross-border e-commerce agent remain licensed partners in China; your own filings remain yours.
Frequently asked questions
Which HS code should I use for gaskets exported to China?
The relevant HS6 codes are 401693 for rubber seals, 848410 for metal-composite joints, 848420 for mechanical seals and 848490 for mixed gasket sets. Match the material and construction before choosing the Chinese tariff line.
What duty applies to mechanical seals in China?
Chinese tariff line 84842000 has an 8% MFN rate and a 5% provisional rate for 2026. Include import VAT in the landed-cost calculation as well.
Can I supply a Chinese distributor through cross-border retail?
The listed entry is 40169390, and cross-border retail goods are for personal use and may not be resold. It is therefore unsuitable for supplying a distributor's resale stock.
Do I need an EORI to export gaskets from Britain?
Yes. Exports from England, Scotland or Wales require an EORI starting GB. Prepare the correct commodity code and the value, weight, packaging and invoice and packing list references for the export declaration.