Sourcing aluminium air cylinders from China
Aluminium compressed-air cylinders from China carry 6% UK duty; the listed suspensions concern other gas services. Confirm with the relevant authority the conformity-assessment and marking requirements for transportable cylinders and which pressure equipment rules apply to breathing-apparatus cylinders. Cambridge China Bridge sources aluminium compressed-air cylinders.
UK duty on aluminium compressed-air cylinders
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 7613 covers aluminium containers for compressed or liquefied gas. The supplied line, 7613 00 00 90, carries 6% duty from China, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty. The table shows different compressed-air cylinder configurations under that same line. The listed suspensions concern specified carbon-overwrapped natural-gas or hydrogen containers and empty portable medical oxygen cylinders with a valve and regulator, rather than ordinary compressed-air cylinders.
The UK Trade Tariff attaches an import control for fluorinated greenhouse gases. Official guidance prohibits placing products or equipment containing banned fluorinated gases on the Great Britain market. For cylinders supplied empty or containing compressed air, ask your customs broker to confirm the attached control's declaration requirements before shipment; do not assume the tariff exemption wording applies to your order.
Confirm the cylinder's material, intended gas service and supplied configuration using finding your commodity code. See the wider aluminium gas cylinder guide for other gas services. Ask your customs broker whether this line falls within the aluminium sector of the UK carbon border adjustment mechanism, when any obligations apply and what registration or emissions records may be needed; consult the UK carbon border adjustment guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empty aluminium compressed-air cylinders without valves | 7613 00 00 90 | 6% | None |
Specify the air service and filling connection
Specify water capacity, working and test pressure, aluminium alloy, neck thread, valve connection, dimensions, weight and finish. State whether the cylinders will arrive empty or filled, and whether they are for industrial gas transport or breathing apparatus. Have the intended filler agree the cylinder design and valve connection before placing the order.
Confirm with the relevant authority the conformity-assessment requirements for transportable gas cylinders before placing them on the Great Britain market. The Rho marking is required for transportable pressure equipment placed on that market. For breathing-apparatus cylinders, ask the relevant authority which pressure equipment safety rules apply. Confirm the applicable route for the intended use before approving drawings or stampings.
Ask for design approval evidence and batch test records tied to the offered cylinder design. Agree how serial numbers will connect each delivered cylinder to its records. Use factory verification to check the manufacturer's approval evidence and production capability.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 2,000 empty aluminium compressed-air cylinders 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
Documents: match the design approval, batch certificates and test records to the cylinder model, gas service and delivered serial numbers.
Threads and valves: gauge neck threads against the agreed drawing and check the supplied valves match the filler-approved connection.
Body and interior: check dimensions and weight against the specification; inspect for dents, damaged necks and visible internal contamination on accessible samples.
Marking and packing: check stampings against the approved artwork and records; confirm necks, threads and valves are protected. Repeat damage and serial-number checks on arrival.
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What goes wrong
A cylinder can match the requested capacity while having the wrong neck thread or valve connection. Approval paperwork may describe another design, and incomplete stampings can lead to refusal by the filler. Treat a sample cylinder and its documents as a matched set when approving production.
Transport damage can leave dents or damaged threads despite an acceptable factory inspection. Check the packing method before shipment and inspect the delivered cylinders before sending them for filling. Record defects against serial numbers and retain photographs. Agree these checks through the quality inspection guide.
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 compressed-air cylinders from China?
The supplied UK Trade Tariff line, 7613 00 00 90, carries 6% duty from China. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty is listed. The specified suspensions concern other gas services.
Do aluminium compressed-air cylinders need CE marking?
Confirm the intended use first. Transportable pressure equipment requires the Rho marking in Great Britain. For breathing-apparatus cylinders, confirm with the relevant authority which pressure equipment safety rules apply.
Will a Chinese cylinder fit my UK filling valve?
Do not assume it will. Have your filler approve the neck thread and valve connection, then gauge production threads against the agreed drawing.
What should I check when the cylinders arrive?
Match serial numbers to batch records, inspect bodies and necks for damage, and check threads, valves and stampings against the approved specification.