Sourcing floating salinometers from China

Zero duty, with mercury controls

Heading 9025 includes hydrometers and similar floating instruments. A non-electronic floating salinometer measures salt solution through its floating position. The table separates buying specifications that share the same instrument code; parts and accessories have a separate line. See brewing hydrometers for the wider product family.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, the listed non-electronic instrument and parts lines carried 0% duty on goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no listed suspension. The instrument line attaches import and export controls on mercury. Confirm the ballast and any integral thermometer materials, and ask your customs broker to confirm the applicable mercury-control requirement before shipment.

Agree the complete product description, scale and construction before confirming the commodity code. Do not assume that a loose testing cylinder or a complete instrument set takes the parts code.

Specify the solution and scale

State whether the instrument is for brine, seawater or another salt solution. Agree the scale units, range, graduation spacing, reference temperature, permitted reading error and whether readings use the top or bottom of the meniscus. A specific-gravity scale and a salt-concentration scale are different buying specifications.

Specify glass construction, ballast material, stem length, sample-cylinder clearance and protective case. Ask for the calibration method, temperature-correction instructions and a sample calibration record. Make mercury-free construction an explicit purchase specification.

For models intended or reasonably likely to be used by consumers in Great Britain, general product safety rules apply. Before placing such a product on the market, the producer must ensure it is safe. If you are importing it, confirm your responsibilities with the relevant authority.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative wholesale batch of mercury-free floating salinometers under 9025 80 80 90, invoiced at £24,000 free on board, with £1,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £25,500. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £25,500, so it is £5,100. 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

Readings: compare samples with an agreed reference across the intended range, at the stated reference temperature, with the stem clear of the cylinder wall.

Scale: check units, graduation legibility, reference-temperature marking and meniscus instructions against the approved sample.

Float and glass: check upright floating, secure ballast, cracks, chipped stems and loose or displaced scale inserts.

Packing: inspect protective cases and carton cushioning, then repeat the reading and float checks after unpacking transported samples.

What goes wrong

A clear scale can still be the wrong scale for the buyer's solution. Temperature differences, trapped bubbles, wall contact and inconsistent meniscus reading can also produce misleading results. Record the agreed test method so factory and arrival checks are comparable.

Loose ballast can tilt the instrument, while a shifted paper scale changes the indicated reading. Thin stems can crack during transport without obvious carton damage. Quarantine damaged or inconsistent stock and use quality inspection to document the defects before discussing replacements.

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.