Sourcing acetylene cylinders from China
Steel acetylene cylinders from China carry 2% UK duty across the listed heading 7311 lines, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty shown. Cylinders used to carry gas by road need transportable pressure equipment conformity assessment, inspection and marking. Cambridge China Bridge sources acetylene cylinders.
UK duty on acetylene cylinders
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 5 November 2026, heading 7311 covers iron or steel containers for compressed or liquefied gas. The listed lines carry 2% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping, countervailing or steel measure shown. The recorded suspension concerns specified empty portable medical oxygen cylinders, not acetylene cylinders.
The UK Trade Tariff attaches an import control of fluorinated greenhouse gases to these lines. Confirm the applicable declaration requirement with your customs broker for the actual contents and condition of the shipment. Do not assume that a heading-level control means an acetylene cylinder needs a fluorinated-gas licence.
Confirm the commodity code from construction, pressure, capacity and the precise tariff description. The table contains classification candidates, including a higher-pressure line only where its description is met; it does not assign that line to ordinary acetylene cylinders. See the wider gas cylinder guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other seamless refillable high-pressure steel cylinders, including porous-filled designs | 7311 00 30 80 | 2% | None |
| Other seamless cylinders outside the specified refillable high-pressure description | 7311 00 30 85 | 2% | None |
| Other steel gas containers, including welded cylinders, under 1 000 litres | 7311 00 91 00 | 2% | None |
| Seamless refillable cylinders, 165 bar or more, under 20 litres, if applicable | 7311 00 11 80 | 2% | None |
Specify the acetylene cylinder assembly
Acetylene cylinders contain a porous mass and normally a solvent in which the acetylene is dissolved. Specify the complete assembly: shell construction, water capacity, working and test pressure, porous filling, solvent condition, tare definition, valve, neck thread, protective cap and markings. State whether you are buying bare shells, filled assemblies without acetylene, or gas-filled cylinders.
For cylinders used to carry gas by road, confirm the applicable transportable pressure equipment conformity assessment, inspection and marking requirements with the relevant transport authority or your customs broker. Obtain documents covering the exact cylinder design and batch, and ask your intended filling operator to review them before production. HSE recommends that acetylene is used only by trained people with suitably designed handling equipment.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 50 empty seamless acetylene cylinders, subject to code confirmation under 7311 00 30 80, invoiced at £8,000 free on board, with £2,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £10,000. Duty at 2% is £200. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £10,200, so it is £2,040. Import taxes total £2,240; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £200 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Documents: match the approved assembly description, porous filling and solvent specification to the supplied batch; check that certificates identify the actual design.
Identity and weight: compare serial numbers, pressure and capacity markings and tare records with the agreed documents; investigate unexplained weight differences.
Valve and protection: gauge the neck thread against the specified valve, check the outlet connection and inspect caps or guards for transport damage.
Arrival condition: check for dents, corrosion, damaged valves, unreadable markings and disturbed packing. Refer concerns about the filled assembly to the filling operator; agree the inspection scope through the quality inspection guide.
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What goes wrong
A certificate for the steel shell alone can leave the buyer without evidence covering the supplied acetylene assembly. An unclear order can also leave the parties disagreeing about whether porous filling, solvent and valves were included. Resolve the assembly description and filling operator's acceptance criteria before approving production.
Valve threads can differ from the agreed drawing, tare records can describe a different assembly condition, and transport can damage caps or obscure markings. Keep affected cylinders separate while the supplier and filling operator investigate. Agree batch records and packing photographs before shipment.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For repeat volumes, see container programmes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on acetylene cylinders from China?
The supplied tariff snapshot shows 2% across the listed heading 7311 lines. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty is shown. The medical oxygen cylinder suspension does not cover acetylene cylinders.
Can I use a general steel cylinder certificate?
Ask for documents covering the exact acetylene assembly, including its porous filling and solvent condition. Have the intended filling operator review the design and batch documents before ordering.
Should I order acetylene cylinders empty or filled?
State the shipment condition explicitly. Distinguish a bare shell from an assembly containing porous filling and solvent, and from a cylinder containing acetylene. Agree that condition with the filling operator and carrier.
What should I check when acetylene cylinders arrive?
Match serial numbers and assembly records, inspect valves and guards, check markings and tare information, and look for dents or corrosion. Refer unexplained differences or damage to the supplier and filling operator.