Sourcing bicycle wheel hubs from China

UK duty on bicycle wheel hubs

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, ordinary bicycle hubs under 8714 93 00 90 carry 4% duty, with no listed anti-dumping duty or suspension. Heading 8714 covers vehicle parts and accessories; this hub line excludes coaster braking hubs and hub brakes. The table also includes related sprockets and brake parts, rather than treating them as ordinary hubs.

The related free-wheel sprocket line 8714 93 00 19 carries 4% duty and residual anti-dumping duty of 48.50 %. Its suspension footnote describes specified hubs for bicycle manufacture at 0.00 %, despite the line's sprocket description. Do not assume this applies to your hub. The other related table lines carry 4%, with no listed trade remedy or suspension. The tariff attaches a cultural-object export licence control; confirm its relevance with your customs broker.

Give your broker drawings, photographs and a description of any braking or gearing mechanism to confirm the commodity code. Check the suspension discrepancy before claiming relief. For the wider product family, see bicycle parts and tyres.

Specify axle fit and wheel-building geometry

Specify front or rear use, axle attachment, dropout spacing, end-cap configuration, spoke-hole count and drilling type. Provide flange diameter, flange spacing and a dimensioned drawing so the wheel builder can assess spoke length and wheel dish.

For rear hubs, name the cassette interface, freehub body material and engagement mechanism. Specify bearing type, seals, lubricant, allowable play and rotation checks. Agree spare bearings and replacement freehub bodies. Hubs for consumer use in Great Britain must be safe; ask for test evidence matching the supplied design and intended riding use.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of 200 bicycle hubs under 8714 93 00 90, invoiced at £9,500 free on board, with £300 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £9,800. Duty at 4% is £392. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £10,192, so it is £2,038.40. Import taxes total £2,430.40; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £392 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Fit: check axle dimensions, end caps and dropout spacing against the drawing, then trial-fit the hub to the intended frame or fork.

Wheel building: check spoke drilling, flange dimensions, burrs and cracks; compare the shell with the approved sample.

Function: check bearing smoothness and play, freehub engagement, cassette fit and any disc mounting interface.

Arrival: check corrosion, impact damage, mixed variants and missing end caps; reconcile product references and batches with the packing list. Agree these checks through the inspection guide.

What goes wrong

Similar-looking hubs can have incompatible end caps, cassette interfaces or flange geometry. An unapproved bearing or seal substitution can also change rotation feel and durability. Lock the drawing and component list before production, and retain an approved sample for comparison.

A supplier may describe a hub, freewheel and cassette assembly with the same catalogue term. That can lead to the wrong tariff line or an unsupported suspension claim. Separate each item on the order and invoice, and ask the broker to resolve classification before shipment.

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.