Sourcing concrete paving block moulds from China

Duty on paving block moulds and supporting tooling

Heading 8480 covers moulds and associated tooling. Concrete paving block moulds fall within moulds for mineral materials, subject to confirmation of the supplied assembly. The table also includes separately supplied mould bases and moulding patterns used in tooling manufacture; these are not interchangeable descriptions for a complete paving block mould.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, all heading 8480 lines carried 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff records show no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspensions or attached import controls. Import VAT is normally 20%; zero customs duty does not remove VAT.

Confirm the commodity code using drawings, the material being formed and the contents of the shipment. For the production equipment that uses these moulds, see concrete block making machines.

Specify the mould around your press and paving block

Supply the press make and model, mounting drawing, mould box dimensions, pallet interface and tamper-head arrangement. Define the finished block shape, thickness, cavity layout, chamfers, spacer nibs and surface texture. Agree steel grade, heat treatment, hardness, replaceable wear parts and the drawing revision before manufacture.

Ask for trial blocks made with your intended concrete mix and a compatible press. Record filling, compaction and release settings, then measure the blocks against the approved drawing. Employers must provide safe equipment for work; work equipment includes tools. Include handling and changeover instructions in the purchase specification.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: a replacement steel paving block mould set for a small producer under 8480 60 00 00, invoiced at £20,000 free on board, with £2,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £22,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £22,000, so it is £4,400. 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

Dimensions: measure cavities, mounting holes, pallet contact surfaces and tamper clearances against the approved drawings.

Steel and wear surfaces: match material certificates and hardness results to the agreed specification; inspect welds, inserts and surface finish.

Trial blocks: check thickness, squareness, chamfers and spacer nibs; look for sticking, chipped edges and uneven compaction.

Arrival condition: check for rust, bent mounting faces and transit damage; reconcile the mould identity, wear parts and drawings with the packing list. Use the inspection guide to plan checks.

What goes wrong

A mould can produce the right outline yet fail to fit the buyer's press. Incorrect mounting positions, pallet interfaces or tamper clearances can prevent installation or damage tooling. Approve interface drawings rather than relying on a photograph of a similar machine.

Poor wear resistance changes cavity dimensions, while rough surfaces and unsuitable release geometry can cause sticking and chipped blocks. Approve measured trial blocks and agree wear-part replacement arrangements. If you provide a mould that stays in China to make imported goods, confirm with your customs broker how any cost not already included in the seller's price should be treated in those goods' customs value.

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.