Sourcing aluminium helium cylinders from China
Aluminium helium cylinders from China carry 6% UK duty, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty. Cylinders used to transport helium need conformity assessment and marking before being placed on the Great Britain market. Agree valve threads with your filler. Cambridge China Bridge sources aluminium helium cylinders.
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UK duty on aluminium helium 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 for goods from China, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing measure. Its 0.00 % suspensions cover specified natural gas or hydrogen containers and portable medical oxygen cylinders, not helium cylinders.
The UK Trade Tariff attaches an import control of fluorinated greenhouse gases to this line. The importer should confirm the requirement and applicable declaration with their customs broker for the actual cylinder and its contents. Specify whether the shipment is empty or filled before requesting clearance advice.
The table shows buying configurations under the same supplied commodity line. Confirm the material, gas service and shipment contents using our commodity code guide. Separately supplied valves and regulators are classified by what they are. See the wider aluminium gas cylinder guide for other gas services.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empty refillable aluminium helium cylinders | 7613 00 00 90 | 6% | None |
Specify the helium cylinder and filling connection
Write down whether the cylinder is refillable, its water capacity, working and test pressures, alloy, dimensions, weight, neck thread and valve outlet. Identify whether it will supply a balloon inflator or laboratory regulator. Agree the complete connection with the intended filler and equipment user before approving the sample.
Cylinders used to carry gas need the required marking before being placed on the Great Britain market. Confirm with the Vehicle Certification Agency the applicable conformity assessment arrangements, including the assessment body, and periodic inspection and testing requirements in use. New transportable pressure equipment supplied directly into Great Britain requires Rho marking. Ask for approval evidence matching the finished cylinder design and its gas service.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 2,000 empty refillable aluminium helium cylinders, illustrative only 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 design approval, batch test certificates and serial numbers to the cylinders supplied.
Threads and valves: gauge neck threads against the agreed drawing, check valve outlet compatibility and review the supplier's leak-test records.
Body and testing: review hydraulic and burst-test records, and inspect arriving cylinders for dents, damaged necks and surface defects.
Marking and packing: compare stampings and conformity marks with the approved specification, and check that packaging protects valves and threads. Include these checks in the inspection brief.
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What goes wrong
A cylinder can look correct but have a neck thread or valve outlet that the UK filler or balloon inflator cannot use. Approval paperwork may describe another cylinder design, while incomplete stampings or transport dents can lead to rejection. Compare documents, drawings and the physical sample before releasing production.
Define who supplies and fits the valve, and have the filler review the proposed cylinder before shipment. For laboratory orders, agree internal cleanliness and the gas supplier's acceptance criteria separately from the external finish. Inspect the delivered batch against those written requirements before putting it into service.
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 helium cylinders from China?
The supplied tariff line, 7613 00 00 90, carries 6% duty for goods from China. No anti-dumping or countervailing measure is listed. The listed suspensions do not cover helium cylinders.
Do aluminium helium cylinders need conformity marking?
Yes. Cylinders used to transport gas need conformity marking. Confirm the applicable conformity assessment requirements with the Vehicle Certification Agency.
Will a UK supplier refill a helium cylinder bought from China?
Agree acceptance before ordering. Give the filler the approval documents, cylinder drawing, pressures, neck thread and valve specification, and ask them to review the proposed cylinder.
What should I specify for a balloon helium cylinder?
Specify refillability, water capacity, working and test pressures, neck thread, valve outlet and the intended balloon inflator. Confirm the filling connection with the filler before approving a sample.