Sourcing copper crucibles from China

Copper crucible duty and classification

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 7419 covers other articles of copper. All supplied lines carry 0% duty for goods from China, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspensions or attached import controls.

The table shows possible routes for copper crucibles, distinguishing cast or formed articles that are not further worked from other copper articles. It is not a classification decision for every crucible. Give your customs broker the drawing, material, manufacturing process and intended furnace use, then confirm the commodity code. Your import declaration must include that code.

For the wider product family, see copper mesh, springs and castings. Keep the crucible specification separate from the specification for a complete furnace.

Specify the crucible and its cooling circuit

State the copper grade and required chemical analysis, cavity profile, usable capacity, wall and base thickness, mounting faces and surface finish. Identify the furnace model, charge material and operating conditions. Ask the furnace supplier to confirm compatibility rather than accepting a generic description such as melting cup.

For water-cooled designs, specify passage layout, inlet and outlet connections, seals, coolant conditions and an agreed leak-test procedure. Request a drawing showing the cooling passages and inspection records linked to the supplied batch. For workplace supply, safe-use information and instructions, plus testing or examination necessary for compliance, are required.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 20 machined, water-cooled copper crucibles, illustrative order under 7419 80 90 98, invoiced at £20,000 free on board, with £800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £20,800. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £20,800, so it is £4,160. 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

Material: match the material certificate and chemical analysis to the specified copper grade and batch.

Geometry: measure the cavity, wall and base thickness, mounting faces and connection positions against the approved drawing.

Cooling: check passage cleanliness, connections and seals, and review the agreed leak-test results before installation.

Condition: inspect for cracks, exposed porosity, burrs, dents and machining residue. Check packing protects the rim and connections. See quality inspection explained.

What goes wrong

A crucible can match the outside dimensions while having a different cavity or thinner base. Substituted material, casting porosity and machining residue can escape a visual check. Incorrect mounting faces or coolant connections can prevent installation.

For cooled designs, blocked passages or leaking joints can make an otherwise acceptable-looking part unusable. Agree rejection criteria and the leak-test procedure before production. Compare the delivered part with the drawing and inspection records before approving a furnace trial.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For repeat volumes, see container programmes.