Sourcing concrete vibrators from China
The selected heading 8479 lines carry 0% UK duty for goods from China, with no recorded anti-dumping or countervailing duty. Before selling new concrete vibrators in Great Britain, confirm the applicable CE or UKCA marking, declaration of conformity and English instruction requirements with the relevant authority. Cambridge China Bridge sources concrete vibrators.
UK duty on concrete vibrators
Heading 8479 covers machines with individual functions not specified elsewhere in its chapter. For complete concrete vibrators, building machinery under 8479 10 00 00 is a candidate to confirm. The other machine and parts rows are classification alternatives for the actual goods supplied, not interchangeable codes. See the wider machinery guide.
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 3 October 2026, the selected lines carried 0% ordinary duty for goods from China. No anti-dumping duty, countervailing duty or suspension is recorded. The building-machinery and other-machine lines attach waste import and export controls and fluorinated greenhouse gas import controls; the other-parts line attaches the gas control. For China shipments, confirm their application with your customs broker.
Waste shipment controls apply only where the material is waste. Check this before ordering damaged or scrap equipment from China. Confirm any shipment-specific waste or gas requirements with your broker before dispatch. Send the machine specification, photographs and separate parts list when confirming your commodity code.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Building machinery, candidate line for complete concrete vibrators | 8479 10 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Other individual-function machines, subject to classification | 8479 89 97 90 | 0% | None |
| Cast iron or cast steel machinery parts, where applicable | 8479 90 20 90 | 0% | None |
| Other machinery parts, subject to classification | 8479 90 70 99 | 0% | None |
Specify the poker, drive and working conditions
Define whether you need an immersion poker or an externally mounted vibrator. For immersion equipment, specify head diameter, shaft length, coupling design, drive type and the concrete placement conditions. For external units, agree mounting details and the formwork arrangement. Confirm whether the quotation includes the drive, converter, shaft and head.
Agree supply voltage, frequency, connector, cable length and operating cycle for your site. Ask for loaded performance checks, noise and vibration information, and a replacement-parts list. Before supply in Great Britain, verify the technical file arrangements, conformity declaration, CE or UKCA marking and English instructions described in the wider machinery guide.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 40 concrete vibrator kits with drive units and poker assemblies under 8479 10 00 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
Identity: match the supplied drive, converter and poker to the approved specification, nameplate and conformity documents.
Head and shaft: check dimensions, coupling engagement, shaft flexibility, sheath damage and accessible fasteners.
Operation: use an agreed concrete trial to check starting, consistent vibration, heat, abnormal noise and cable connections.
Delivery: check English instructions, supplied accessories, replacement-head compatibility and transit damage. Plan these checks through the inspection guide.
What goes wrong
A drive can run while the poker performs poorly under load. An incompatible coupling, unsuitable head diameter or short shaft can make an otherwise working kit unsuitable for the pour. Agree a representative concrete trial and acceptance criteria before shipment rather than accepting an unloaded demonstration.
Check for overheating, damaged cable entries, leaking head seals and loose mountings during inspection. Treat a changed drive or converter as a change to the ordered configuration: recheck its specification and documents. Obtain drawings and agreed spares so a replacement shaft or head fits the delivered equipment.
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 concrete vibrators from China?
The selected heading 8479 machine and parts lines carry 0% ordinary duty for China, with no recorded anti-dumping or countervailing duty. Confirm the code for the complete kit or separately imported parts.
Do concrete vibrators need CE or UKCA marking?
Before placing new machinery on the Great Britain market, confirm the applicable CE or UKCA marking, declaration of conformity and English instruction requirements with the relevant authority. Match the documents to the supplied configuration.
What should I specify when buying a concrete poker?
Specify head diameter, shaft length, coupling, drive type, site power supply and concrete placement conditions. Agree what is included and how loaded performance will be checked.
Can I import used concrete vibrators from China?
Check their condition and documentation before ordering. The candidate machine lines attach waste controls; confirm whether the shipment is waste and what requirements apply with your customs broker.