Sourcing commercial steam cleaners from China
Commercial steam cleaning machines within heading 8424 carry 0% UK duty from China, with no recorded trade remedies. Machinery conformity assessment and marking apply where the machine falls within scope; check the boiler's pressure equipment requirements separately. Cambridge China Bridge sources commercial steam cleaning machines.
Zero duty on the selected steam cleaning lines
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 3 October 2026, the selected machine and parts lines carried 0% duty for goods from China, with no recorded anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no listed suspensions. Heading 8424 includes steam and similar jet projecting machines alongside other spraying equipment.
The tariff attaches fluorinated greenhouse gas import controls to these selected lines, and a restriction on entry into free circulation concerning ozone-depleting substances to the selected parts line. Ask the factory about any regulated gas content and have your customs broker confirm the applicable declaration requirements. The tariff control alone does not establish that a steam cleaner contains those substances.
Confirm the commodity code from the operating method, built-in motor, heating device and whether the shipment contains complete machines or separate parts. These are candidate classifications, not interchangeable codes. See pressure washers and sprayers for the wider heading.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water cleaning appliances with built-in motor and heating device | 8424 30 01 00 | 0% | None |
| Compressed-air-operated steam or similar jet cleaning machines | 8424 30 10 00 | 0% | None |
| Other steam or similar jet cleaning machines | 8424 30 90 00 | 0% | None |
| Other parts of steam cleaning and spraying appliances | 8424 90 80 80 | 0% | None |
Specify the boiler and sustained steam output
Specify whether the machine produces steam or heated water, its working pressure, sustained steam output, boiler material and capacity, heat-up behaviour and refill method. Agree the cleaning task, hose length, nozzle set, detergent dosing and any vacuum recovery function. Compare performance at the tool during continuous use, rather than relying on the boiler temperature alone.
For machinery within scope, conformity assessment and the relevant conformity marking are required. Ask for the declaration of conformity, English instructions and electrical safety evidence for the supplied configuration. Pressure equipment has separate requirements before sale in Great Britain; ask the supplier to explain the boiler and assembly classification and provide supporting documents.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 40 commercial steam cleaning machines under 8424 30 90 00, 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
Steam delivery: run production samples through the agreed cleaning task and record output stability, pressure recovery and water carry-over.
Boiler and protection: have a competent tester check low-water protection, temperature controls, pressure protection and the refill arrangement against the approved design.
Hoses and tools: check temperature and pressure ratings, coupling retention, trigger operation, insulation and leaks during hot operation.
Documents and arrival condition: match the model and rating plate to the supplied documents; inspect boiler mounts, castors, handles and accessories for transport damage. Arrange quality inspection before dispatch.
What goes wrong
A machine may deliver a strong initial burst but lose useful steam during continuous cleaning. Wet discharge, leaking couplings, scale build-up and inaccessible seals can disrupt use. Agree a sustained demonstration on the intended surface, a descaling procedure and a spare-parts list before ordering.
For qualifying pressure equipment used at work, a written scheme of examination must be in place and an examination undertaken before use. Confirm whether the supplied system qualifies before commissioning; a factory demonstration does not settle this requirement.
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 commercial steam cleaners from China?
The selected heading 8424 steam cleaning machine and parts lines carry 0% duty from China, with no recorded anti-dumping or countervailing duty. Import VAT is normally 20%.
Which commodity code applies to a commercial steam cleaner?
Check the operating method, built-in motor and heating device. The heated motor-driven water cleaning line and the other steam machine lines describe different configurations; confirm the exact model before declaring.
Is a CE certificate enough for a commercial steam cleaner?
Ask for the declaration of conformity, English instructions and electrical safety evidence for the actual configuration. Check machinery conformity assessment and the boiler's pressure equipment requirements separately.
How do I check whether the steam output is usable?
Run the agreed cleaning task continuously with the supplied hose and tool. Record pressure recovery, wet discharge and refill interruptions, and compare the result with the approved sample.