Sourcing fishing sinkers from China

Fishing sinker duty and tariff controls

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 20 October 2026, heading 9507 covers fishing rods, hooks and other line fishing tackle, nets and certain hunting requisites. Fishing sinkers fall within other tackle, 9507 90 00 00, carrying 2% duty from China. The supplied tariff records no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension for this line. The table shows sinker types sharing that code.

The tariff attaches an import control on cat and dog fur, an export control on that fur and a cultural-goods export licence control. Imports and exports of cat and dog fur and products made from it are banned. Specify sinkers without animal-fur components. Ask your customs broker to confirm any declaration requirement and the applicability of the listed export controls.

Confirm the commodity code using the finished sinker's material, construction and intended use, especially for mixed tackle kits. See the fishing floats guide for related tackle within the wider heading.

Specify material, weight and line attachment

Specify the metal or alloy, actual weight and tolerance, shape, bore diameter, line insert, swivel attachment and coating. For split shot, agree slot depth, closing force and whether it can be removed without damaging the line. Keep an approved sample and require material evidence tied to the production batch.

Before supplying lead weights over 0.06 g and up to and including 28.35 g for weighting fishing lines in England, confirm the applicable restrictions and exceptions with the relevant authority. Use non-lead material for ordinary standalone sinkers within that range. Check the applicable rules before selling in Scotland or Wales.

Consumer sinkers sold in Great Britain must be safe in normal or reasonably foreseeable use. Assess exposed edges, loose attachments and the intended handling method alongside the material specification.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 2,000 tungsten fishing sinkers, illustrative order under 9507 90 00 00, invoiced at £14,000 free on board, with £1,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £15,000. Duty at 2% is £300. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £15,300, so it is £3,060. Import taxes total £3,360; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £300 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Material and weight: check batch material evidence and weigh samples from each labelled size against the agreed tolerance.

Line contact: pass the intended line through bores and inserts; check for burrs, sharp casting seams and split-shot slots that cut or crush it.

Attachments and finish: pull-test swivels and eyes against the agreed specification; check coating adhesion, cracks and exposed rough metal.

Packing: check size separation, pack counts, weight labels and container closures after handling. Use the quality inspection guide to define the inspection brief.

What goes wrong

A sinker sold as lead-free may arrive without evidence of its composition. Weight can drift between mould cavities, bores can retain casting flash, and inserts or swivels can loosen. A matching outer shape does not establish matching material or performance.

Treat mixed sizes, damaged line contact surfaces and unsupported material claims as reasons to hold the batch for investigation. Agree how rejected stock will be segregated and corrected before paying the balance.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For own-brand ranges, see sourcing for brands.