Sourcing container straddle carriers from China

Zero duty on container straddle carriers

Heading 8426 covers cranes, mobile lifting frames, straddle carriers and works trucks fitted with a crane. Container straddle carriers fall within 8426 12 00 00, described as mobile lifting frames on tyres and straddle carriers. The table shows carrier configurations sharing this commodity line. See our cranes guide for the wider heading.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, the duty for goods from China was 0%. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspensions or attached import controls for this line.

Confirm the commodity code using the complete machine specification, lifting arrangement and photographs. Give the broker separate descriptions of any separately supplied equipment or spare parts.

Specify the container, spreader and yard

Specify whether the carrier handles loaded or empty containers, the container dimensions, rated lifting capacity, lifting height and stacking arrangement. Define spreader adjustment, twistlock engagement indicators and lifting interlocks. Supply yard drawings showing gate clearance, travel routes, turning space, gradients and ground conditions. Agree wheel loads, steering arrangement, braking performance, operator visibility and the lifting limits for the intended configuration.

Choose the power system against the actual duty cycle and maintenance capability. For electric machines, agree charging arrangements and battery access. For diesel machines, obtain evidence of engine type approval and photographs of the approval markings: new non-road mobile machinery sold in Great Britain must have a type-approved engine with markings proving the correct approval.

New machinery supplied in Great Britain must meet machinery safety requirements and have CE or UKCA marking, a declaration of conformity and English instructions. Request documents for the exact carrier and spreader configuration. If assembled on site, it must be examined by a competent person before use; arrange the examiner and commissioning responsibilities before shipment.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: An illustrative order for a compact container straddle carrier for a depot under 8426 12 00 00, invoiced at £48,000 free on board, with £5,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £53,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £53,000, so it is £10,600. 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

Spreader and locks: witness engagement and release on representative containers, check alignment and indicators, and verify that the agreed interlocks prevent lifting with incomplete engagement.

Structure and lifting: compare frame dimensions and weld inspection records with approved drawings. Witness the agreed factory lifting tests and check synchronisation, load holding, limit devices and hydraulic leaks.

Travel and controls: check steering, brakes, emergency stops, visibility and warning devices. On arrival, inspect tyres, hoses, connectors and exposed surfaces for transport damage before commissioning.

Identity and documents: match machine and spreader identification to the declaration, test records and English manual. Check conformity marking and, for diesel machines, engine approval markings. Use a product-specific inspection brief.

What goes wrong

A carrier can lift the specified load yet fail to suit the yard: the frame cannot clear a gate, the turning path conflicts with stored containers, or wheel loads exceed the site's agreed ground capacity. Spreader misalignment, unreliable lock indicators and uneven lifting can also prevent acceptance. Put these checks into the purchase specification and factory acceptance plan.

Another failure is paperwork covering a different model or a carrier without the supplied spreader. Resolve document discrepancies before dispatch. Agree how dismantled assemblies will be reconnected, who will commission the machine and who will arrange the required thorough examination. Factory checks should be followed by arrival checks against the same approved specification.

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.