Sourcing excavator ripper teeth from China
Excavator ripper teeth from China carry 0% UK duty under the relevant parts lines of heading 8431. Confirm the code from the material, manufacturing process and intended machine. For replacement parts, document their intended use and check adapter fit and batch hardness. Cambridge China Bridge sources excavator ripper teeth.
Duty and classification for ripper teeth
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 8431 covers parts suitable solely or principally for the machinery named in the heading. For excavator ripper teeth, check the cast-iron or cast-steel other-parts line 8431 49 20 90 against the other-parts line 8431 49 80 90. The table separates purchasing variants sharing a code; it does not represent separate tariff lines.
Both candidate lines carry 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control for either line. These findings concern replacement teeth and related parts, rather than every product under the heading.
Give your customs broker the drawing, material certificate, casting or forging process and intended excavator application to confirm the commodity code. The excavator buckets guide covers the wider attachment category.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cast-steel replacement ripper teeth | 8431 49 20 90 | 0% | None |
| Forged-steel replacement ripper teeth | 8431 49 80 90 | 0% | None |
Specify the tooth, adapter and retaining system
Identify the excavator, ripper shank and adapter system. Supply drawings showing the tooth pocket, seating faces, pin hole, retaining arrangement and wear profile. State whether you are buying replacement tips, adapters or assembled parts, and list the pins and retainers included. Approve a sample fitted to your actual adapter before accepting production.
Agree cast or forged manufacture, steel grade, heat treatment, hardness acceptance criteria and impact-test evidence appropriate to the application. Require batch-linked material certificates and test results. Hardness alone does not establish resistance to fracture.
For sales into Great Britain, keep evidence that the goods are intended as replacement parts. Government machinery guidance says intended spare-part use should be evidenced by a document available when market surveillance authorities request it. Have the conformity position checked for the exact supply, particularly if it includes a complete attachment. For grapple attachments, see our excavator hydraulic grapple sourcing guide.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative batch of replacement cast-steel ripper teeth and matching adapters under 8431 49 20 90, invoiced at £8,000 free on board, with £1,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £9,200. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £9,200, so it is £1,840. 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
Fit: measure the pocket, seating faces and pin hole against the approved drawing; trial-fit the tooth and retaining system to the intended adapter.
Material: match batch identification to the steel certificate and heat-treatment records; compare hardness results with the agreed acceptance criteria.
Condition: inspect for cracks, casting defects, distortion and damaged seating faces; use the agreed crack-detection method where specified.
Arrival: reconcile teeth, adapters, pins and retainers with the packing list; check transit damage and preserve batch identification. Plan these checks through the inspection guide.
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What goes wrong
A tooth can resemble the sample but have a different pocket or pin position, leaving it loose or preventing full seating. An unsuitable retaining pin can let the tooth detach. Softer material wears quickly, while unsuitable heat treatment can leave a hard tooth prone to fracture. Reject unapproved substitutions and investigate failed batches before fitting further stock.
Ask for installation and removal instructions for the supplied retaining system. HSE states that plant and equipment must be made safe before maintenance starts. Apply that requirement when replacing teeth, and keep incompatible or damaged parts out of service.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on excavator ripper teeth from China?
The supplied tariff record shows 0% on 8431 49 20 90 and 8431 49 80 90, with no listed trade remedy. Confirm which line fits the material, manufacture and intended use.
Are cast and forged ripper teeth declared under the same code?
Not necessarily. Check cast-steel parts against 8431 49 20 90 and forged or other parts against 8431 49 80 90. Give your broker the manufacturing details and drawing.
Will replacement teeth fit my existing ripper adapter?
Confirm the adapter system, pocket dimensions, seating faces and retaining arrangement. Trial-fit an approved sample; a similar outline or matching catalogue description is insufficient.
What documents should I ask a ripper tooth factory for?
Ask for the approved drawing, batch-linked material certificate, heat-treatment and hardness results, agreed impact-test evidence, fitting instructions and a list of supplied pins and retainers.