Sourcing basic oxygen converters from China
Basic oxygen converters and qualifying parts from China carry 0% UK duty, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty listed. For complete machinery, confirm safety compliance, conformity documentation, marking and English instruction requirements with the relevant authority; partly completed machinery needs incorporation documents. Cambridge China Bridge sources basic oxygen converters.
Zero duty on converters and qualifying parts
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 8454 covers converters, ladles, ingot moulds and casting machines used in metallurgy or metal foundries. Basic oxygen converters fall within the converters line, 8454 10 00 00. The converter configurations in the table share that tariff line; they are not separate tariff subdivisions.
The supplied tariff record shows 0% duty for converters and parts under 8454 90 00 00 from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspensions or attached import controls. Zero customs duty does not remove import VAT. See UK import duty and VAT.
Confirm the commodity code against the actual shipment, particularly where the order includes separately supplied drives, controls or other equipment. Do not assume every accessory belongs under the parts line. See the wider foundry equipment guide for other products within this heading.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top-blown basic oxygen converters | 8454 10 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Parts for basic oxygen converters, subject to classification | 8454 90 00 00 | 0% | None |
Specify the converter and its site interfaces
Specify the intended steelmaking process, working charge capacity, vessel profile, shell material, refractory lining arrangement, tapping opening, trunnion supports and tilting drive. Define the oxygen lance or bottom-blowing arrangement, gas supply interfaces, cooling circuits, extraction hood connection and control interfaces. State whether the order includes lining, installation supervision, commissioning and operating training.
For complete machinery, check compliance with machinery safety requirements, the declaration of conformity, conformity marking and English instructions. The responsible person must compile a technical file and make it available on request. If supplied as partly completed machinery, it must come with a declaration of incorporation and assembly instructions. Agree the supply boundary and who will coordinate integration before ordering.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: A pilot-scale basic oxygen converter for a specialist business, illustrative only under 8454 10 00 00, invoiced at £230,000 free on board, with £14,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £244,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £244,000, so it is £48,800. With no duty, the only import tax is the VAT, which a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Vessel and supports: compare shell dimensions, weld records, material certificates, trunnion alignment and refractory anchoring with approved drawings; check for distortion and transport damage on arrival.
Tilting drive: witness a dry run, checking smooth travel, brake holding, position feedback, emergency stops and guards against the agreed acceptance procedure.
Gas and cooling: review the supplier’s leak and flow test records, circuit identification and interlock demonstrations; inspect connections and protective caps after unloading.
Documents and packing: match equipment identification to drawings and conformity or incorporation documents; check English instructions, lifting arrangements, shipping supports and the spares list. Use an agreed inspection checklist.
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What goes wrong
A converter can match the quoted capacity yet fail to fit the buyer’s foundations, extraction hood or lance arrangement. Unclear supply boundaries leave refractory installation, cooling connections, control integration or commissioning support outside the order. Put these interfaces and acceptance responsibilities into the specification.
Transport distortion, misaligned trunnions, damaged cooling connections and incomplete drive documentation are acceptance risks to check. A dry run cannot establish steelmaking performance. Agree how process performance will be demonstrated during site commissioning, and record arrival defects before installation.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For machinery and equipment, see machinery imports.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on basic oxygen converters from China?
The supplied tariff record, read on 1 October 2026, shows 0% for converters under 8454 10 00 00 and parts under 8454 90 00 00, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty listed.
What should I specify when ordering a basic oxygen converter?
Define charge capacity, vessel and lining design, blowing arrangement, tilting drive, cooling, extraction and control interfaces. List what is included in installation and commissioning.
What documents should partly completed converter machinery include?
Partly completed machinery must be accompanied by a declaration of incorporation and assembly instructions. Confirm the supply boundary before accepting the supplier’s document package.
Can a factory dry run prove converter performance?
It can demonstrate movement and agreed control functions. It cannot establish steelmaking performance; agree a separate site commissioning procedure and process acceptance criteria.