Sourcing laundry and dry-cleaning machines from China
Commercial laundry and textile machines from China, including dry-cleaning machines, tumble dryers, ironers and presses, dyeing and finishing machines, pay 2% UK duty, with no anti-dumping duty. They need machinery and electrical safety evidence, gas-fired dryers need gas appliance conformity, and water connections must meet the fittings rules. Cambridge China Bridge sources them.
Commercial dryers, ironers, dry-cleaning, dyeing and textile finishing machines pay 2% UK duty from China. Machinery, gas and water rules explained.
A flat 2%
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 25 September 2026, dry-cleaning machines, drying machines of every capacity, ironing machines and presses, washing, bleaching or dyeing machines, machines for reeling, folding or cutting fabric, dressing and finishing machines, and parts of heading 8451 carried 2% duty on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure.
Household and laundry-type washing machines that wash and spin are in heading 8450 instead; confirm the commodity code.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry-cleaning machines | 8451 10 00 00 | 2% | None |
| Drying machines, up to 10 kg dry linen | 8451 21 00 00 | 2% | None |
| Drying machines, other | 8451 29 00 00 | 2% | None |
| Ironing machines and presses | 8451 30 00 00 | 2% | None |
| Washing, bleaching or dyeing machines | 8451 40 00 00 | 2% | None |
| Reeling, folding, cutting or pinking machines | 8451 50 00 00 | 2% | None |
| Parts | 8451 90 00 00 | 2% | None |
Machinery, electrical and gas
Commercial laundry machines fall under the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008, with UKCA or CE marking, a declaration of conformity and English instructions. Gas-heated dryers and ironers are also gas appliances under the retained Gas Appliances Regulation, which needs notified or approved body certification for the model.
Specify the UK supply: single or three-phase, voltage and gas type.
Water and solvents
Machines connected to the mains water supply must meet the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations, including backflow protection; the taps and valves guide explains the duty. Solvent dry cleaning can need an environmental permit from the local authority, so check the solvent before choosing a machine.
Installation and spares
Agree installation drawings, drain and venting requirements, and a spare parts kit, and find a UK engineer who can service the model before ordering. At inspection, run a full cycle on each machine.
Cambridge China Bridge sources commercial laundry, dry-cleaning and textile finishing machines, with safety, gas and installation settled before the order. See how our sourcing service works.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on commercial dryers from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 25 September 2026, drying machines, ironers, dry-cleaning machines and other heading 8451 machines carried 2% duty from China.
Do gas tumble dryers need extra certification?
Yes. Gas-heated machines are gas appliances and need certification under the retained Gas Appliances Regulation.
Are commercial washer-extractors in heading 8451?
Machines that wash and spin are usually in heading 8450; heading 8451 covers dryers, ironers, dry-cleaning and textile finishing machines.
Does a dry-cleaning machine need a permit?
Solvent dry cleaning can need an environmental permit from the local authority, depending on the solvent.