Sourcing central lubrication pumps from China
Centralised lubrication pumps from China carry 0% UK duty across the selected pump and parts lines. Powered units supplied as complete machinery need conformity assessment, a declaration of conformity and the relevant marking for Great Britain. Cambridge China Bridge sources centralised lubrication pumps.
Zero duty, with classification by pump mechanism
Heading 8413 covers pumps for liquids, whether or not fitted with a measuring device, and liquid elevators. For centralised lubrication equipment, the table gives candidate lines for hand, reciprocating dosing, piston and gear pumps, plus pump parts. Select the line from the actual mechanism and function, rather than the supplier's description of a lubrication system.
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 4 October 2026, the selected lines carried 0% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control recorded. Elsewhere in the heading, a specialised diesel pump-head line has a suspension. The residual other-pumps line has torture and repression controls attached; if your broker selects that line, confirm the requirements with them before ordering.
Confirm the commodity code using drawings, drive type, lubricant and pumping mechanism. For the wider pump heading, see hydraulic gear pumps. A pump for lubricating machinery should not be assigned an engine-pump code simply because the supplier calls it an oil pump.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hand-operated lubrication pumps, other | 8413 20 00 90 | 0% | None |
| Reciprocating dosing and proportioning pumps, other | 8413 50 40 90 | 0% | None |
| Piston pumps other than hydraulic fluid power pumps, other | 8413 50 69 90 | 0% | None |
| Gear pumps other than hydraulic fluid power pumps, other | 8413 60 39 90 | 0% | None |
| Other pump parts | 8413 91 00 90 | 0% | None |
Specify lubricant delivery and system compatibility
State whether the pump delivers oil or grease, the lubricant grade and operating temperature range. Specify delivery per stroke or cycle, pressure at the outlets, reservoir capacity, refill method, mounting and port threads. Identify the distribution arrangement, including progressive distributors or injectors, and whether the system needs pressure release between cycles.
For powered units, specify supply voltage, controller settings, wiring, low-level indication and fault outputs. Agree a test using your lubricant and a representative distribution circuit, including cold starting and restart after refill. Request drawings and a parts list for seals, pumping elements, filters and controllers.
For Great Britain, complete machinery requires conformity assessment, a declaration of conformity and the relevant conformity marking. Where the assembly qualifies as partly completed machinery, assembly instructions and a declaration of incorporation must accompany it. Confirm the supplied assembly's status before accepting the documents; user instructions for the UK market must be in English.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 40 centralised lubrication piston-pump assemblies, illustrative only under 8413 50 69 90, invoiced at £28,000 free on board, with £4,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £32,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £32,000, so it is £6,400. 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
Delivery: measure output at each pump outlet with the agreed lubricant and back-pressure; compare it with the approved sample and specification.
Pressure and leakage: check pressure build-up, relief operation, any required pressure release between cycles, and leaks around pumping elements, seals and fittings.
Controls: simulate an empty reservoir and interrupted delivery; check the agreed alarms, timer settings, connector pin assignment and restart behaviour.
Arrival condition: check reservoir damage, capped ports, contamination, mounting dimensions, port threads and model identification against the order. Use the same records for quality inspection before shipment.
What goes wrong
A motor can run while bearings receive no lubricant. Air trapped after refill, grease that is too stiff at the working temperature, a blocked distributor or an unsuitable pressure-release arrangement can interrupt delivery. A pressure reading at the pump alone does not show that lubricant reaches every lubrication point.
Similar-looking units can have different port threads, pumping elements or alarm wiring. Keep an approved sample and record the tested configuration. Resolve differences before shipment, and repeat delivery and alarm checks on arrival before connecting the pump to production machinery.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on centralised lubrication pumps from China?
The selected hand, dosing, piston and gear-pump lines, and other pump parts, carry 0% duty, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty recorded in the supplied tariff snapshot.
Can the same lubrication pump handle oil and grease?
Confirm this for the exact pumping element, seals and distribution circuit. Test the intended lubricant at the working temperature and back-pressure.
What documents should a powered lubrication pump come with?
For complete machinery, check the declaration of conformity and relevant marking. Qualifying partly completed machinery needs assembly instructions and a declaration of incorporation. UK user instructions must be in English.
How do I check that the pump actually lubricates the machine?
Test delivery through a representative distribution circuit and check lubricant reaches each intended point. Also test refill restart, low-level indication and the agreed fault alarms.