Sourcing airtight drysuit zips from China

UK duty on airtight drysuit zips

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, heading 9607 covers slide fasteners and their parts. Complete airtight drysuit zips are distinguished by whether their chain scoops are base metal or another material. Separately imported parts have their own lines. The descriptions below identify candidate lines; confirm them against the actual construction.

All listed lines carry 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspensions or attached import controls. This tariff position does not establish the zip's sealing performance or suitability for a particular suit.

Confirm the commodity code using material declarations, photographs and details of whether the shipment contains complete zips or parts. For the wider zip family, see water-resistant coil zips.

Specify the seal and suit attachment

Specify chain material, closed length and its measurement points, tape width and coating, slider and pull orientation, end-seal geometry and opening direction. Identify the suit fabric and whether attachment uses bonding, welding or stitching with sealing. Approve an installed sample using the intended adhesive or welding process, rather than approving only a loose zip.

Agree an air-leak and water-ingress test method, pressure, duration and acceptance criteria with the suit maker. Include repeated opening, bending and checks after exposure to the intended water conditions. Obtain fitting, cleaning, lubrication and storage instructions. Ask the supplier to identify any lubricant that could damage the tape coating or suit bond.

For Great Britain, official protective-equipment guidance says separately supplied components can constitute fully manufactured products. Confirm whether the proposed replacement zip falls under protective-equipment rules. Where general product safety rules apply, consumer zips must be safe in normal or reasonably foreseeable use. Arrange a review through testing and certification.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative trial batch of non-metal-chain airtight drysuit zips for a repair workshop under 9607 19 00 00, invoiced at £2,500 free on board, with £590 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £3,090. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £3,090, so it is £618. With no duty, the only import tax is the VAT, which a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Fit: compare closed length, tape width, opening direction and end-seal shape with the drawing and approved installed sample.

Seal: test sampled zips in the agreed fixture and installed assembly; examine the chain, end seals and tape attachment for leakage.

Operation: open and close sampled zips using the specified lubrication; check full slider seating, operating resistance and sealing after repeated use.

Condition and identity: inspect coating damage, tape creases, detached teeth and distorted sliders; match packs to the agreed model and batch. Use the quality inspection guide to document the checks.

What goes wrong

A zip can close smoothly yet leak at the end seal or where its tape joins the suit. Coating damage, an incompatible adhesive, incomplete slider seating or a changed chain profile can undermine the seal. A water-resistant surface coating alone is insufficient evidence of airtight performance.

Separate leakage through the zip from leakage through its installation during testing. Keep the approved construction, fitting process and maintenance instructions with the inspection brief. Packing should protect the chain and end seals from crushing and sharp folds.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For own-brand ranges, see sourcing for brands.