Sourcing Gravimeters from China

Gravimeter duty and classification

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 9015 covers geophysical instruments alongside other surveying and environmental instruments. Gravimeters used for geophysical measurement fit the description of 9015 80 20 00. Dedicated parts and accessories may fall under 9015 90 00 00, subject to their identity and classification.

The supplied tariff record shows 0% duty for goods from China on these lines, with no recorded anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. It also attaches a DCMS Export Licence control. Official guidance concerns exporting cultural objects from Great Britain; ask your customs broker to confirm how the attached measure affects your declaration.

Confirm the commodity code against the instrument's function and technical documentation. For the wider heading, see surveying instruments and laser levels.

Specify the gravity measurement and calibration

State whether you need relative measurements between survey stations or absolute gravity measurements. Specify measurement range, repeatability, allowable drift, settling behaviour, operating temperature conditions and tilt tolerance. Agree which corrections are applied internally and which remain the buyer's responsibility. Require raw readings as well as corrected results and confirm that exported files work with your survey software.

Ask for calibration records tied to the instrument's serial number, the reference used and the test conditions. Agree acceptance measurements at a repeatable reference location before dispatch and after arrival. Electronic instruments within scope need electromagnetic compatibility conformity under the rules described in the site's wider surveying guide; confirm applicable UKCA or CE marking requirements with the relevant authority.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: A relative gravimeter for a survey business, illustrative only under 9015 80 20 00, invoiced at £38,000 free on board, with £2,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £40,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £40,000, so it is £8,000. 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

Measurement: compare repeated readings at the agreed reference location, documenting settling time, drift and environmental conditions against the purchase specification.

Corrections and data: check levelling, tilt indication, temperature records and correction settings; export raw and processed readings and verify file compatibility.

Documentation: match serial numbers to calibration records and model-specific conformity evidence. For apparatus within the electromagnetic compatibility rules, check the manufacturer's conformity assessment and the required importer identification.

Transport: inspect the fitted case, restraints and any transport lock. Follow the supplier's unlocking and stabilisation procedure, then repeat the agreed acceptance measurement after arrival.

What goes wrong

A supplier may quote display resolution when the buyer needs repeatability. Readings can also be compared under different temperature, tilt or settling conditions, hiding drift. A successful demonstration at the factory does not replace an agreed acceptance procedure using recorded conditions and retained raw data.

Transport disturbance, an incorrectly released transport lock or unsuitable packing can undermine the arrival result. Missing correction settings and incompatible export files can make otherwise usable measurements difficult to process. Agree the return, recalibration and repair process before dispatch.

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.