Sourcing boiler deaerators from China

Duty on boiler deaerators and dedicated parts

Heading 8404 covers auxiliary plant for boilers of heading 8402 or 8403, steam or other vapour power-unit condensers, and parts. For this guide, the relevant lines are boiler auxiliary plant and dedicated parts. The table repeats those codes for different deaerator configurations and replacement components.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 24 October 2026, all supplied lines carried 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing measures, suspensions or attached import controls. Import VAT is separate from duty.

Confirm the commodity code using the drawings, boiler application and shipment contents. Do not assume separately supplied pumps, valves or general-purpose components share the deaerator's code. See the wider boiler auxiliary plant guide and the import duty and VAT guide.

Specify feedwater duty and the pressure boundary

Specify feedwater flow, incoming water temperature, steam supply conditions, operating pressure and the residual dissolved oxygen performance you want guaranteed. Define the operating range, sampling point and acceptance test conditions. State whether you need a spray or tray arrangement, an integrated storage vessel, controls and insulation.

Agree vessel materials, corrosion allowance, design pressure and temperature, connection positions, supports, access openings and replacement internals. Request approved drawings, a weld inspection plan and pressure-test records. For pressure equipment, conformity assessment depends on classification; ask the supplier to explain the route for the exact assembly. CE marking remains recognised in Great Britain where the applicable requirements are met.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Two boiler deaerators, illustrative order under 8404 10 00 00, invoiced at £64,000 free on board, with £5,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £69,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £69,000, so it is £13,800. 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

Materials and welds: match material certificates to the vessel and internals; review weld maps and non-destructive test records against the agreed inspection plan.

Performance: agree a witnessed test of dissolved oxygen performance under the specified water flow, temperature and steam conditions; inspect spray distribution or tray installation.

Fit and arrival condition: compare flange positions, supports and access clearances with approved drawings; check for distorted internals, damaged coatings and moisture inside capped connections.

Documents: match the nameplate, serial identification, applicable declaration of conformity and pressure-test records to the delivered assembly. Arrange quality inspection against the agreed specification.

What goes wrong

A deaerator can fit the boiler house yet miss the agreed oxygen performance because the available steam conditions differ from the supplier's test conditions. Poor spray distribution, incorrectly installed trays and unsuitable vent arrangements are points to investigate. Require a performance guarantee tied to your operating conditions.

Connection mismatches, inaccessible internals and incomplete pressure documentation can delay installation. Resolve drawing discrepancies before fabrication and inspect the internals before closure. Use factory verification to assess whether the supplier makes and tests the vessel itself.

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.