Sourcing industrial castors from China
Industrial castors with base-metal mountings from China carry 0% UK duty on the supplied castor line, with no listed trade remedy. Workplace supply carries safety obligations where more specific product safety law does not apply. Check mounting fit, loaded rolling and braking. Cambridge China Bridge sources industrial castors.
Duty on industrial castors
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, heading 8302 covers castors with mountings of base metal alongside other metal fittings. The supplied castor line, 8302 20 00 90, carries 0% duty for goods from China. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control is recorded for this line.
The table shows product variants under the same supplied commodity line, rather than separate tariff subdivisions. Confirm the commodity code using the complete castor construction and mounting material. For other products within the heading, see furniture handles, hinges and drawer runners.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed industrial castors with base-metal mountings | 8302 20 00 90 | 0% | None |
Specify the wheel, mounting and working load
Specify fixed or swivel construction, wheel diameter and width, tread and core materials, bearing type, mounting height, plate dimensions and hole spacing, or stem dimensions and thread. State whether the brake locks the wheel, the swivel or both. Match the wheel material to the floor, debris, moisture, chemicals and operating temperature.
Define the working load with the factory, including trolley weight, load distribution, travel speed, floor joints and impact conditions. Ask for test results matching the ordered assembly and those conditions. Approve a sample fitted to the actual trolley, with agreed limits for rolling resistance, swivel play and brake holding.
For articles supplied for use at work, the Health and Safety at Work etc Act applies where more specific product safety law does not apply. Supply-chain obligations include safety so far as reasonably practicable, necessary testing or examination, and safe-use information. Obtain fitting, use and maintenance instructions appropriate to the castor.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 2,000 industrial castors with base-metal mountings, illustrative only under 8302 20 00 90, invoiced at £7,000 free on board, with £600 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £7,600. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £7,600, so it is £1,520. 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 mounting height, plate holes or stem dimensions against the approved drawing, and fit samples to the intended equipment.
Rolling: test sampled assemblies under the agreed load on representative flooring; check wheel run-out, bearing noise, swivel resistance and sideways play.
Brakes: check engagement, release and holding under the agreed conditions, including whether swivel locking works where specified.
Construction: check tread bonding, axle retention, welds, coating and sharp edges; compare supplied materials and batch identification with the order.
What goes wrong
A castor can fit the mounting holes yet change the trolley height or foul the frame when swivelling. A load claim without stated test conditions can hide poor performance over floor joints. Treads can separate from their cores, bearings bind, swivel heads develop play and brake pedals become difficult to operate.
Approve the complete assembly, keep the agreed test conditions with the purchase specification and repeat the functional checks on shipment samples and arrival. Use the inspection guide to plan checks before dispatch.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on industrial castors from China?
The supplied line 8302 20 00 90 carries 0% duty for goods from China, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty. Confirm that the complete castor matches this line.
How do I specify a castor load rating?
Give the factory the loaded trolley weight, load distribution, floor conditions, travel speed and impacts. Ask for test results for the ordered castor assembly under the agreed conditions.
What should a castor brake lock?
Specify whether it must lock the wheel, the swivel or both. Test holding and release on the intended equipment under the agreed load and floor conditions.
Can I replace a castor using wheel diameter alone?
Check mounting height, plate holes or stem fit, swivel clearance, bearing type and wheel material as well. Approve a fitted sample before ordering replacements.