Sourcing fibre optic collimators from China

Zero duty on mounted optical components

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 9002 covers mounted lenses and other optical elements used as parts or fittings for instruments or apparatus. The supplied lines all carry 0% duty from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measures, suspensions or attached import controls recorded.

The table shows collimator variants against the same candidate line, 9002 90 00 00, for other mounted optical elements. These are product variants, not separate tariff subdivisions. Confirm the commodity code using the assembly drawing, optical function and supplied configuration. Unmounted lenses belong to a different heading; the mounted beam splitter guide covers the wider mounted-optics family.

Conformity marking is only necessary where sector-specific regulations require it; not all products must bear a marking. Assess the supplied component and its intended use before asking the factory for CE or UKCA documentation. A mark alone does not demonstrate the beam performance agreed in your purchase specification.

Specify the fibre and output beam together

Specify operating wavelength and bandwidth, fibre type, polarisation requirements, connector and end-face finish, or tail length for a pigtailed unit. State beam diameter with its measurement definition, divergence, working distance, clear aperture and acceptable insertion loss. Define the test arrangement so the factory and your receiving team measure the same performance.

Agree lens material, coating band, housing dimensions, mounting datum, adjustment range and locking method. For adjustable units, state whether the factory supplies them aligned and locked. Request test results tied to the supplied batch, and retain an approved sample for comparison.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 200 mounted fibre optic collimators under 9002 90 00 00, invoiced at £10,000 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £10,900. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £10,900, so it is £2,180. 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

Beam: measure diameter and divergence at the agreed wavelength and measurement positions; check beam shape and pointing against the mounting datum.

Transmission: measure insertion loss with the agreed launch fibre and connector condition; check polarisation behaviour where specified.

Assembly: check housing dimensions, thread fit, fibre strain relief and adjustment locking; inspect exposed optics and connector end faces for contamination or damage.

Packing: check protective caps, restrained fibre tails, dry protective packing and batch identification. Use the agreed inspection brief for shipment and arrival checks.

What goes wrong

A collimator tested at the wrong wavelength or with a different fibre can produce a beam that misses the agreed diameter or divergence. Lens decentring shifts the beam, contaminated connectors increase loss, and movement of an unlocked adjustment changes alignment after transport.

Connector polish, housing threads and fibre type can also differ from the approved sample. Keep drawings and test conditions attached to the order, compare arrival samples with the retained unit, and investigate loss or pointing changes before fitting the batch into your equipment.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For components and parts, see sourcing for manufacturers.