Sourcing concrete kerbstone moulds from China

UK duty on concrete kerbstone moulds

Heading 8480 covers moulds and related tooling. A mould that forms concrete kerbstones belongs in the mineral-material mould category, 8480 60 00 00. Classify it by the material it forms, rather than whether the mould itself is steel or plastic. Separately supplied mould bases and moulding patterns have their own lines.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, the concrete mould line and the selected related tooling lines carried 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspensions or attached import controls for these lines.

Confirm the commodity code using drawings, the material being cast and a description of what is supplied. For related concrete moulds within the wider heading, see concrete paving block moulds. If buyer-provided moulds stay in China to make imported goods, ask your customs broker whether and how their cost not already included in the seller's price should be included in those goods' customs value.

Specify the kerb profile and mould interface

Supply a dimensioned kerb drawing showing the exposed face, chamfers, radii, drainage features and end joints. Identify straight, curved, transition and dropped-kerb profiles separately. Agree dimensional tolerances, surface finish and how the casting will be released without damaging its edges.

State whether the mould is for wet casting or a dry-cast production machine. For machine tooling, provide mounting drawings, mould-box dimensions, compression-head details and pallet interface. Specify mould material, wear surfaces, replaceable inserts, fasteners and maintenance responsibility. Ask for trial castings made with the intended concrete process.

Suppliers must supply safe work equipment. Review handling, clamping and release arrangements before offering the moulds for sale. Ask for handling and maintenance instructions, mould mass and details of any lifting attachments. Keep the agreed drawings and trial approval with the order.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative batch of steel concrete kerbstone moulds under 8480 60 00 00, invoiced at £5,000 free on board, with £2,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £7,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £7,000, so it is £1,400. 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

Profile: measure trial kerbstones against the approved drawing, including end joints, face angles and curved sections.

Fit: check mounting positions, compression-head clearance and pallet seating; demonstrate installation on the intended machine where practical.

Release: witness filling and demoulding, checking edge chipping, surface tearing, leakage at joints and access for cleaning.

Arrival condition: inspect for distortion, corrosion, cracked welds and damaged cavity surfaces; match mould identification, inserts and fasteners to the packing list. Arrange a quality inspection before dispatch.

What goes wrong

A kerb profile can look correct in a photograph while its end joint or exposed face differs from the drawing. Machine moulds can also have mounting holes that line up while the compression head fouls the cavity. Approve measured trial castings and the complete machine interface before accepting the tooling.

Flexible walls, worn inserts and poorly closing joints can produce distorted kerbs or concrete fins. Rough cavity surfaces and unsuitable release arrangements can damage edges during demoulding. Record defects against the mould identification and agree repairs, replacement inserts and another trial before dispatch.

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.