Sourcing kerosene cooking stoves from China

UK duty on kerosene cooking stoves

Heading 7321 covers non-electric domestic appliances of iron or steel and their parts. Kerosene cooking stoves fall within the liquid-fuel cooking appliance line, 7321 12 00 00; identifiable appliance parts fall within 7321 90 00 00. The table distinguishes stove designs sharing the same code. For the wider heading, see alcohol camping stoves.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, both relevant lines carried 2% duty for goods from China. The supplied record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspensions, steel measure or attached import controls. Import VAT is 20%.

Confirm the material, domestic appliance design and fuel system before selecting the commodity code. Separately supplied accessories and equipment designed as commercial cooking machinery need their own classification check.

Specify the fuel tank, burner and pot support

Agree whether the stove uses a wick or a pressurised fuel system. Specify the intended kerosene fuel, tank material, filler cap and seal, burner assembly, adjustment mechanism and pot-support geometry. For wick models, record wick material and replacement fit; for pressure-fed models, record the pump, valve and preheating arrangement. Approve a sample with the actual operating instructions.

For sale in Great Britain, consumer products must be safe under the General Product Safety Regulations 2005. Ask for model-specific safety test evidence covering fuel leakage, stability, hot surfaces and burner behaviour. Specify English instructions covering filling, lighting, adjustment, extinguishing and cooling. For camping models, include the official safety advice never to cook inside a tent. Arrange testing and certification around the supplied design.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 200 kerosene cooking stoves; FOB value and freight are hypothetical. under 7321 12 00 00, invoiced at £16,000 free on board, with £2,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £18,000. Duty at 2% is £360. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £18,360, so it is £3,672. Import taxes total £4,032; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £360 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Fuel containment: check tank seams, filler threads, seals and transport damage. Have a competent inspector perform controlled leak checks against the agreed specification.

Burner operation: test with the specified fuel and instructions; check lighting, adjustment, extinguishing, soot and flare-ups. On pressure-fed models, check pump and valve operation; on wick models, check wick movement.

Pot support: assemble the stove and check support alignment, loose fasteners and stability with the intended cookware. Inspect sharp edges, coating damage and heat distortion.

Identity and packing: match the model, replacement parts and instructions to the approved sample. Check that packaging protects the tank, burner and projecting controls. Record arrival findings through the inspection guide.

What goes wrong

A replacement wick, altered burner or substituted seal can change how an apparently identical stove behaves. Include these components in the approved specification and compare production samples with it. Investigate fuel seepage, unreliable extinguishing, persistent soot or flare-ups before releasing stock.

Dented tanks, bent pot supports and crushed controls can escape a carton-only arrival check. Open representative cartons and inspect the appliances themselves. Instructions that omit the model's filling or preheating procedure also need correction before supply.

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.