Sourcing CNC stone centres from China
CNC stone machining centres from China carry 2% UK duty across the relevant lines, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty recorded. New machines for Great Britain need CE or UKCA marking, a declaration of conformity and English instructions. Cambridge China Bridge sources CNC stone machining centres.
UK duty and classification
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 8464 covers machine tools for working stone and other mineral materials, and for cold working glass. Relevant CNC stone machinery falls within sawing, other grinding or polishing, or other machines. The table separates routing and drilling applications sharing the same code.
Every line in the supplied tariff data carries 2% duty for goods from China. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control is recorded. Classify a combined machining centre from its actual functions rather than its sales name.
Send the machine description, tooling and operating sequence to your customs broker to confirm the commodity code. For the wider product family, see stone and tile cutting machines.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| CNC stone sawing centres | 8464 10 00 00 | 2% | None |
| CNC stone grinding or polishing centres | 8464 20 80 00 | 2% | None |
| CNC stone routing and profiling centres | 8464 90 00 00 | 2% | None |
Specify the stone, spindle and machining cycle
Specify the stone types, slab dimensions, finished profiles, sink cut-outs and drilling work. Agree working travel, table capacity, spindle power and speed, tool holders, automatic tool changing, vacuum workholding, water delivery and slurry collection. Require a witnessed machining cycle using your material and drawing, with agreed dimensional and surface-finish acceptance criteria.
Confirm controller language, drawing-file compatibility, software licences, programme backups, electrical supply and service access. New machinery placed on the Great Britain market must have CE or UKCA marking, a declaration of conformity and English instructions. Check that the documents identify the supplied machine.
Stone machining releases respirable crystalline silica. Employers must assess and control workers' exposure. Specify water suppression and extraction connection points, and review the proposed installation and cleaning method before ordering.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Two CNC stone sawing centres, illustrative only under 8464 10 00 00, invoiced at £58,000 free on board, with £4,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £62,200. Duty at 2% is £1,244. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £63,444, so it is £12,688.80. Import taxes total £13,932.80; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,244 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Machining: run the agreed part programme and check cut-out dimensions, hole positions, edge finish and repeatability after tool changes.
Workholding: check vacuum seals, slab support, tool seating and spindle operation under load; inspect for movement or chatter.
Safety and water: check guards, interlocks, emergency stops, earthing, water delivery and leaks near electrical cabinets; match markings and English instructions to the machine.
Arrival: inspect transport restraints, rails, cables and spindle protection before installation; repeat the agreed machining checks after commissioning. See quality inspection.
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What goes wrong
A demonstration on an easy material can hide poor performance on your stone. Weak workholding, spindle run-out and unsuitable tooling can leave chipped cut-outs or inconsistent profiles. A controller demonstration can also conceal missing software licences or drawing-import problems.
Agree the test drawing, material, tooling and acceptance record before shipment. Ask the supplier to demonstrate programme recovery, tool replacement and fault diagnosis, and agree the spare-parts list and support arrangements.
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 CNC stone machining centres from China?
The supplied tariff data records 2% across the relevant lines of heading 8464, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty.
Which commodity code covers a CNC stone machining centre?
Sawing is 8464 10 00 00; stone grinding or polishing is 8464 20 80 00; other machining is 8464 90 00 00. Confirm a combined machine from its functions.
Do CNC stone machining centres need CE or UKCA marking?
New machinery placed on the Great Britain market must be CE or UKCA marked, supplied with a declaration of conformity and have instructions in English.
How should I test a stone machining centre before shipment?
Use your stone and drawing. Check cut-outs, drilling, edge finish, workholding and repeatability through tool changes, then retain the programme and inspection record for arrival checks.