Sourcing interlocked exhaust hoses from China

Zero duty on interlocked metal exhaust hoses

Heading 8307 covers flexible tubing of base metal, with or without fittings. Steel interlocked exhaust hoses fall within the iron or steel line, subject to confirmation of the actual construction and assembly. The table shows supply formats sharing the same commodity code. See the wider metal hose guide for other products in this heading.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, both supplied commodity lines carried 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied data lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, steel measure, suspension or attached import control.

Confirm the material, interlocked construction and supplied fittings before choosing the commodity code. Use the import duty and VAT guide to calculate the border charges; the order values shown here are illustrative.

Specify the interlock and exhaust installation

Specify strip material and thickness, interlock profile, bore, outside diameter, length in its agreed measurement condition, bend radius and permitted axial movement. State whether the hose is bare, lined or packed, and identify cuff, clamp or flange details. Send an installation drawing showing supports, clearances and movement. Agree leakage acceptance criteria at the intended temperature and pressure rather than accepting a claim that the hose is gas-tight.

For vehicle applications, the MOT inspection manual requires assessment of the overall security of the exhaust system. For consumer supply in Great Britain, the General Product Safety Regulations 2005 cover products intended for, or foreseeably used by, consumers; applicable consumer products must be safe. Keep the application and safety evidence with the specification.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 1,500 cut lengths of steel interlocked exhaust hose under 8307 10 00 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

Material: compare strip and fitting material with the agreed specification and batch documents; arrange material verification where substitution would affect performance.

Dimensions: gauge the bore and end connections, measure length in the agreed condition, and trial-fit the hose to the mating pipework.

Interlock: inspect for opened seams, crushed sections and sharp cut ends; bend and extend samples through the agreed movement range and check for separation or binding.

Performance: test seam and fitting leakage under agreed operating conditions, including after heat and movement cycling. Check end retention and packing condition against the approved sample. See quality inspection.

What goes wrong

A hose can fit the pipework but leak through its interlocked seam. Excessive extension can open the interlock, tight bends can crush the bore, and unsuitable packing can deteriorate in hot exhaust service. Loose cuffs or mismatched clamps can leak at the connection. Resolve these risks with an approved assembly sample and application testing before accepting the batch.

For workshop exhaust extraction, HSE advises keeping couplings and flexible connections in good condition to prevent leaks. Include accessible connections and replacement checks in the installation brief, and inspect incoming hoses for transport damage before fitting.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For repeat volumes, see container programmes.