Sourcing aluminium nitrous cylinders from China
Aluminium nitrous oxide cylinders from China carry 6% UK duty, with no listed trade remedy. The listed zero-duty suspensions do not cover this gas service. Transportable cylinders need conformity assessment and marking; filled cylinders also require a legitimate use. Cambridge China Bridge sources aluminium nitrous oxide cylinders.
Duty on aluminium nitrous oxide cylinders
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 7613 covers aluminium containers for compressed or liquefied gas. The supplied commodity line, 7613 00 00 90, carries 6% duty for goods from China, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty. Only this relevant line was supplied, so the table contains no additional commodity lines.
The listed 0% suspensions concern specified carbon-overwrapped natural gas or hydrogen containers and empty portable medical oxygen cylinders with a valve and pressure and flow regulator. They do not cover nitrous oxide cylinders. The UK Trade Tariff also attaches an import control of fluorinated greenhouse gases; ask your customs broker to confirm its applicability and the declaration required for your shipment.
Confirm the commodity code against the cylinder material, construction and whether it arrives empty or filled. Ask the broker to check any gas contents separately. For related aluminium gas containers, see the aluminium carbon dioxide cylinder guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminium cylinders for nitrous oxide | 7613 00 00 90 | 6% | None |
Specify nitrous oxide service and the filling connection
Specify empty or filled supply, refillable or disposable construction, water capacity, working and test pressure, alloy, dimensions, neck thread, valve connection and protective cap. Agree the gas service and filling connection with your intended UK filler before approving the sample. For filled supply, include the gas specification and intended business use.
Transportable gas cylinders need conformity marking before being placed on the market in Great Britain. Confirm the applicable conformity-assessment requirements and arrangements for periodic inspection and testing in use with the relevant authority. For new cylinders sourced directly from China for that market, check the Rho marking and approval documents. Match the approved design to the actual cylinder and valve assembly.
Filled nitrous oxide canisters require a legitimate use regardless of size. Confirm the customer's business activity and intended application before ordering filled stock, and retain the supporting purchase correspondence. Legitimate use of nitrous oxide does not require a controlled drug licence under the Home Office approach; this does not replace cylinder approval.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 2,000 empty aluminium nitrous oxide cylinders, not a quotation 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 the design approval, batch certificates and serial numbers to the delivered cylinder design and specified nitrous oxide service.
Threads and valves: gauge neck threads, compare valve connections with the approved sample and have the filler confirm compatibility.
Testing and condition: review hydraulic and batch test records; check arriving cylinders for dents, damaged necks, corrosion and damaged valve protection.
Marking and packing: check conformity marking, permanent identification and gas labels against the agreed documents; confirm caps and packing protect valves and threads. Arrange inspection before shipment.
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What goes wrong
A certificate can describe a different cylinder design or gas service. A valve that looks similar can have an incompatible connection, and a damaged neck can make the cylinder unacceptable to the filler. Verify the documents and test the agreed connection before approving production.
A supplier may describe filled cylinders as catering stock without establishing the customer's intended use. Do not treat that description as proof of legitimate use. Also avoid claiming the medical oxygen suspension for nitrous oxide cylinders: the listed relief concerns a different gas 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 nitrous oxide cylinders from China?
The supplied line, 7613 00 00 90, carries 6% duty. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty is listed, and the listed suspensions do not cover nitrous oxide cylinders.
Do Chinese aluminium nitrous oxide cylinders need approval?
Transportable cylinders need conformity marking for the Great Britain market. Confirm the applicable conformity-assessment requirements with the relevant authority. For new cylinders imported directly from China, check the Rho marking and documents for the actual design.
Can I buy filled nitrous oxide cylinders for my business?
A legitimate use is essential. Home Office guidance says all sizes of nitrous oxide canisters are illegal if the supplier or owner has no legitimate use. Confirm the intended application before ordering.
Will a Chinese cylinder fit my UK filling equipment?
Do not assume it will. Send the neck-thread and valve-connection drawings to your filler, obtain acceptance and compare the production cylinders with the approved sample.