Sourcing aluminium scuba cylinders from China
Aluminium scuba cylinders from China carry 6% UK duty; the heading's restricted 0% suspensions do not cover ordinary scuba cylinders. Confirm with HSE whether the Pressure Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 apply to the actual breathing-apparatus cylinders. Check conformity evidence and valve compatibility before ordering. Cambridge China Bridge sources aluminium scuba cylinders.
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Scuba-cylinder duty and tariff controls
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 20 November 2026, heading 7613 covers aluminium containers for compressed or liquefied gas. Aluminium scuba cylinders fall within 7613 00 00 90, carrying 6% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty. The table shows buying variants within the same commodity line.
The listed 0% suspensions cover narrowly specified carbon-overwrapped natural-gas or hydrogen containers and empty portable medical oxygen cylinders fitted with a valve and pressure and flow regulator. Ordinary scuba cylinders do not match those descriptions. The UK Trade Tariff also attaches an import control of fluorinated greenhouse gases; ask your customs broker to confirm the requirement for your shipment, stating whether the cylinders are empty and their intended gas service.
Confirm the commodity code against the actual cylinder specification and how valves are supplied. See the wider aluminium gas-cylinder guide for other applications within this heading.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminium scuba cylinders supplied without valves | 7613 00 00 90 | 6% | None |
Specify the cylinder and valve together
Specify water capacity, working and test pressure, alloy, neck thread, valve type, dimensions, weight, finish and intended breathing gas. State whether the order is for bare cylinders or cylinders with valves. Agree the neck and valve drawings with your UK filler before production, and ask them to review the proposed marking and supporting records.
Great Britain recognises CE marking indefinitely under these regulations. Ask for the conformity assessment evidence, declaration and marking applicable to the exact design being ordered. Treat a supplier's generic certificate as a document to investigate, rather than acceptance of the batch.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 64 empty aluminium scuba cylinders without valves; illustrative order only under 7613 00 00 90, invoiced at £3,024 free on board, with £2,400 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £5,424. Duty at 6% is £325.44. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £5,749.44, so it is £1,149.89. Import taxes total £1,475.33; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £325.44 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Identity: match cylinder markings, serial numbers, alloy records and batch certificates to the approved design and purchase specification.
Threads and valves: gauge neck threads against the agreed drawing, check valve identification and review assembly and leak-test records where valves are supplied.
Pressure testing: check hydraulic and batch test records against the cylinder model and serial-number list. Arrange technical review through your testing and certification service.
Condition and packing: inspect for dents, damaged necks, corrosion, moisture and internal contamination. Check that necks and valves are protected, then repeat the condition check on arrival.
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What goes wrong
A certificate may cover a different cylinder design, or the delivered neck thread may differ from the drawing. Incomplete markings and missing batch records can lead to rejection by the filler. Protective caps can hide damaged threads, while poor packing leaves dents that become apparent only when cartons are opened.
Resolve document and thread discrepancies before shipment. Include cylinder interiors, markings and packing in the agreed inspection checklist, and quarantine damaged or unidentified cylinders on arrival pending technical review.
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 scuba cylinders from China?
The supplied tariff record gives 6% for 7613 00 00 90, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty listed. Ordinary scuba cylinders do not qualify for the heading's restricted 0% suspensions.
Can aluminium scuba cylinders use CE marking in Great Britain?
Great Britain recognises CE marking indefinitely under the pressure equipment regulations. Check the conformity assessment evidence and declaration for the exact cylinder design before ordering.
What should I agree with my UK cylinder filler?
Agree intended gas service, working pressure, neck thread, valve specification, markings and supporting records. Ask the filler to review the proposed cylinder before production.
What documents should I ask the Chinese factory for?
Request the design and conformity evidence, declaration, alloy records, batch test records and serial-number list. Check that the documents identify the cylinders actually being supplied.