Sourcing aluminium CO2 cylinders from China
Aluminium CO2 cylinders from China carry 6% UK duty across the types covered here, with no anti-dumping duty. Before placing them on the Great Britain market, arrange transportable pressure equipment conformity assessment and marking. Agree the valve and filling specification before ordering. Cambridge China Bridge sources aluminium CO2 cylinders.
Duty on aluminium CO2 cylinders
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 7613 covers aluminium containers for compressed or liquefied gas. Aluminium CO2 cylinders under 7613 00 00 90 carry 6% duty from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty listed in the supplied tariff data. The table shows applications and supply configurations of the same commodity line.
The listed 0% suspensions cover narrowly specified carbon-fibre-overwrapped natural gas or hydrogen containers and empty portable medical oxygen cylinders with a valve and pressure and flow regulator. They do not cover ordinary CO2 cylinders. The UK Trade Tariff also attaches an import control of fluorinated greenhouse gases to this code. The importer should confirm the requirement for the actual cylinders and their contents with their customs broker.
Confirm the cylinder construction, intended gas and whether valves are supplied fitted or separately before declaring the commodity code. Separately supplied valves and regulators are classified by what they are. See the wider aluminium gas cylinders guide for other gas services, and the import duty and VAT guide for the calculation method.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminium CO2 cylinders for drinks dispensing | 7613 00 00 90 | 6% | None |
Specify the cylinder, valve and filling arrangement
Specify CO2 service, water capacity, working and test pressure, alloy, dimensions, empty weight, neck thread, valve outlet and whether cylinders arrive empty. For drinks dispensing or carbonation, send the filler and equipment operator the proposed cylinder and valve drawings for acceptance before ordering. Agree the marking layout, finish and protection for the neck and valve.
For cylinders used to transport gas, confirm the applicable transportable pressure equipment conformity assessment and in-use periodic inspection and testing requirements with the relevant appointed inspection body before placing them on the Great Britain market. New finished cylinders imported directly from China for that market need the Rho conformity marking. Ask for the design approval and batch test records, and confirm that they cover the cylinder and valve being supplied.
Ask HMRC or your customs broker to confirm whether this commodity line falls within the UK carbon border adjustment mechanism and when any requirements would apply to your imports. Ask the factory for emissions data and review the UK carbon border adjustment guide when planning imports.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 2,000 empty aluminium CO2 cylinders for drinks dispensing under 7613 00 00 90, invoiced at £48,000 free on board, with £2,400 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £50,400. Duty at 6% is £3,024. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £53,424, so it is £10,684.80. Import taxes total £13,708.80; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £3,024 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Approval: match design approval and batch test certificates to the ordered cylinder type, manufacturer and serial numbers.
Threads and valves: gauge neck threads against the drawing and check the fitted valve and outlet against the filler’s accepted specification.
Testing and marking: check hydraulic and burst test records for the batch, then compare cylinder stampings and conformity marking with the approved documents.
Arrival condition: check for dents, damaged necks, loose valve protection and unreadable stampings. Compare dimensions and empty weight with the order, and retain serial-number records. Use the quality inspection guide to prepare the inspection brief.
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What goes wrong
A cylinder can match the requested size while having the wrong neck thread or valve outlet. Approval documents may cover another design, and incomplete stampings can lead the filler to refuse the cylinders. Dents and damaged threads can also cause rejection on arrival.
Have the filler accept the drawings and approval evidence before production. Check the factory’s cylinder-making and testing capability through factory verification, then inspect the actual batch before shipment. Keep cylinders with damaged threads, dents or mismatched paperwork apart for assessment before filling.
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 aluminium CO2 cylinders from China?
The supplied tariff data shows 6% duty under 7613 00 00 90, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty listed. The listed suspensions do not cover ordinary CO2 cylinders.
Do aluminium CO2 cylinders need conformity marking?
New finished cylinders imported directly from China for the Great Britain market need Rho marking. For cylinders used to transport gas, confirm the applicable conformity assessment requirements with the relevant appointed inspection body.
Will a Chinese cylinder fit my UK filling valve?
Confirm the neck thread, fitted valve and outlet with your filler before ordering. Send drawings for acceptance and gauge the delivered threads against the agreed specification.
Does the fluorinated-gas tariff control apply to CO2 cylinders?
The UK Trade Tariff attaches that control to the commodity code. Ask your customs broker to confirm the requirement for the actual cylinder and its contents before shipment.