How to export small appliances from the UK to China
Check each appliance's Chinese tariff line and CCC scope before agreeing a shipment. Certification may be needed, and duty plus import VAT shape the buyer's landed cost. Cross-border retail covers only part of the range. Cambridge China Bridge's own staff in China find and check Chinese importers and distributors for UK brands.
Choose the route for each appliance
Small domestic appliances need a model-specific CCC check before you commit to supply. Separate finished appliances from parts when discussing classification and certification with the importer.
Under HS 8508-8516 (25 subheadings), HMRC recorded £17.0m of UK goods exports to mainland China under 25 HS6 subheadings in 2025 (2024: £20.3m, -16.1%). Exports to Hong Kong under the same codes were £1.8m. January to July 2026: £9.8m against £12.8m in the same months of 2025 (-23.6%).
The largest UK export line under HS 851690 was 85169000, parts of electric water heaters and related heating apparatus, at £5.4m. That parts trade is useful context, but it is not evidence of demand for your finished appliance. Give prospective buyers the exact model and intended use before asking for a commercial proposal.
Price against the Chinese tariff line
The Chinese tariff lines carry the MFN rates below. A vacuum cleaner under 85081110 or 85081190 attracts 8%, while 85081910 and 85081990 carry 0%. Vacuum-cleaner parts also split: 85087010 carries 6%, but 85087090 carries 0%. Your UK commodity code alone is not enough to settle the Chinese classification.
The standard import VAT rate is 13%, subject to the law's exceptions. Its base is customs value plus customs duty plus consumption tax. The importer's customs broker or adviser confirms whether consumption tax applies to the appliance. Duty and VAT add to landed cost, so use the buyer's calculation when assessing the price it can offer.
| Chinese tariff line | Rate |
|---|---|
| 85081910 / 85081990 / 85086000 / 85087090 | 0% |
| 85087010 / 85099000 / 85169010 / 85169090 | 6% |
| 8509-8516 (32 subheadings) | 7% |
| 8508-8510 (10 subheadings) | 8% |
Resolve CCC before committing stock
The CCC reference table identifies electric water heaters, room heaters, vacuum cleaners and skin or hair care appliances for third-party certification. Its vacuum-cleaner references include 8508110000 and 8508190000; these should not replace current tariff classification. Have the exact model's catalogue scope and certification position confirmed before shipment. Plan for approvals to take months, not weeks; the Chinese authority decides.
Prepare the UK export declaration
For exports from England, Scotland or Wales, obtain a GB EORI and classify each appliance or part. The online export declaration needs the commodity code, value, weight, packaging, destination, transport and invoice and packing list references. Give the carrier the invoice and any applicable export licences or certificates. Keep the model description consistent across the buyer's order and your export information.
Use cross-border retail only for eligible products
The cross-border retail list partially covers this range: 85081100 and 85081900 vacuum cleaners, 85087010 specified vacuum-cleaner parts, 85094010 juicers, 85094090 grinders and mixers, and 85098010 floor polishers. The 85081100 entry specifies power not exceeding 1500 watts and capacity not exceeding 20 litres. Confirm the exact entry before choosing bonded 1210 or direct 9610 retail imports.
Listed retail imports are supervised as personal-use articles, with first-import licence, registration and filing requirements disapplied subject to the stated risk exceptions. The overseas business retains product quality and safety responsibility and appoints a mainland-registered company for customs registration, truthful declarations and shared civil liability. Consumers must accept the risk notice; goods are for personal use and may not be resold. Transaction limits are RMB 5,000 and RMB 26,000 annually per person.
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Check the Chinese buyer before supply
Ask whether the buyer intends distributor stock or personal-use cross-border retail, and request its proposed Chinese tariff line and model-specific CCC plan. Our own staff in China find and check Chinese importers and distributors for UK brands. If an importer has already approached you, our staff in China check that company before stock is sent or anything is signed.
Through our export-to-China service, we prepare registration and label work with licensed partners in China. The importer of record and any required cross-border e-commerce agent remain with licensed partners in China; the brand's own filings remain the brand's. We check with licensed partners.
Frequently asked questions
Does my appliance need CCC before export to China?
Some models fall within the CCC catalogue. The reference table includes vacuum cleaners, water heaters, room heaters and skin or hair care appliances. Confirm the exact model's scope and certification position before shipment.
What duty does China charge on vacuum cleaners?
The listed MFN rates are 8% for 85081110 and 85081190, and 0% for 85081910 and 85081990. Parts under 85087010 carry 6%; 85087090 carries 0%. Settle the Chinese tariff line before quoting.
Can I sell UK appliances through cross-border retail?
Only part of the range is listed. The 85081100 vacuum-cleaner entry specifies no more than 1500 watts and 20 litres. Listed retail imports are for personal use and may not be resold.
Can you check an importer who has contacted my brand?
Cambridge China Bridge's own staff in China check that company before stock is sent or anything is signed. Bring the proposed appliance models and trading route into the discussion.