Sourcing anchors and grapnels from China
Anchors, grapnels and anchor parts of iron or steel from China, from small galvanised boat anchors to cast ship anchors, pay 0% UK duty under 7316 00 00 00, with no anti-dumping duty and no steel safeguard measure. Ship anchors are bought with a classification society certificate and proof load test, and leisure anchors on weight, galvanising and holding design.
Boat and ship anchors, grapnels and anchor parts of iron or steel from China pay 0% UK duty. Class certificates, galvanising and proof tests explained.
0% duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 27 September 2026, heading 7316 covers anchors, grapnels and parts thereof, of iron or steel. It is a single line at 0% on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure. We also checked the tariff as it stands from 1 October 2026: no steel safeguard or quota measure applies to this heading.
Anchor chain is heading 7315 (see our steel chain guide), stainless steel anchors are also 7316, and aluminium or bronze anchors follow the heading for their metal, so confirm the commodity code.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchors, grapnels and parts, of iron or steel | 7316 00 00 00 | 0% | None |
Certificates and standards
Anchors for merchant ships are made and tested to the rules of a classification society, which require a proof load test and a certificate for each anchor, usually witnessed by the society's surveyor. Ask which society's approval the foundry holds before ordering, and have the certificate travel with the anchor.
Anchors for leisure boats are not a certified product, but boats placed on the GB market under the Recreational Craft Regulations 2017 must be designed with suitable anchoring arrangements. Specify hot-dip galvanising to BS EN ISO 1461 and ask for the coating thickness report.
Specifying anchors
Specify type (plough, claw, fluke, grapnel, mushroom, stockless or high holding power), weight and tolerance, material and whether cast or fabricated, shank and fluke dimensions, shackle size, finish, marking of weight and batch, and for ship anchors the classification society and certificate required.
Worked duty example
An invented example rather than a quote: 500 galvanised plough anchors for leisure boats, commodity code 7316 00 00 00, bought for £9,000 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance, so £9,900 is the value customs works from. No duty is due on boat anchors; import VAT at 20% of £9,900 is £1,980. If you are VAT-registered, that VAT is normally reclaimable. See calculating UK import duty and VAT for the method.
Inspection checklist
Weight and dimensions: weigh every anchor or a sample against the nominal weight, and check shank length, fluke angle and shackle hole against the drawing.
Material and welds: inspect cast anchors for porosity and cracks and fabricated anchors for weld quality, and for ship anchors check the proof load test certificate matches the anchor's stamped number.
Coating: measure galvanising thickness with a coating gauge at several points to BS EN ISO 1461, and check for bare spots, runs and ash inclusions.
What goes wrong
Anchor orders fail on weight, casting quality and coating. Anchors are lighter than their stated weight, castings have hidden porosity or cracks, welds on fabricated anchors fail under load, galvanising is thin or patchy, and ship anchors arrive without a valid class certificate.
Weigh, inspect and check coating before shipping, and match certificates to stamped numbers. See our quality inspection guide.
Cambridge China Bridge sources anchors for UK chandleries, marine suppliers and boatbuilders, checking the foundry and its test records first. See factory verification.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on boat anchors from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 27 September 2026, anchors under 7316 00 00 00 carried 0% from China, with no anti-dumping duty.
Is anchor chain in the same heading?
No. Chain is heading 7315, also 0% from China.
Do ship anchors need a certificate?
Yes. Anchors for merchant ships are proof load tested and certified under classification society rules.
Does the steel safeguard apply to anchors?
No. No steel safeguard or quota measure applies to heading 7316, including from 1 October 2026.