Sourcing LED street lights from China
LED street-light fittings from China carry UK duty of 2% for metal or other non-plastic materials and 4% for plastics in the selected lines. Mains lighting must meet electrical safety, electromagnetic compatibility and hazardous-substance rules. Specify road optics and freeze the driver and LED components. Cambridge China Bridge sources LED street lights.
Street-light fittings: 2% or 4%
Heading 9405 covers luminaires, lighting fittings and their parts, alongside illuminated signs. This guide selects complete street-light fittings designed solely for LED light sources. Distinguish photovoltaic fittings from other LED fittings and identify the material. Ceiling and wall fittings in this heading expressly exclude those used for public open spaces or thoroughfares.
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 3 October 2026, the selected Chinese-origin fittings carried 2% duty for metal or other non-plastic materials and 4% for plastics. These lines show no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspensions. They list a DCMS Export Licence entry; ask your customs broker to confirm its relevance to the transaction and any documentary requirement.
Confirm the commodity code against the complete product description, including its photovoltaic configuration and material. Describe separately supplied poles, batteries and components individually rather than assuming the fitting's code covers everything. See the wider LED lighting guide for bulbs, battens and floodlights.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-photovoltaic LED street-light fittings of metal, not hand-made | 9405 42 39 90 | 2% | None |
| Non-photovoltaic LED street-light fittings of plastics | 9405 42 31 00 | 4% | None |
| Photovoltaic LED street-light fittings of metal, not hand-made | 9405 41 39 90 | 2% | None |
| Photovoltaic LED street-light fittings of plastics | 9405 41 31 00 | 4% | None |
Specify road optics, mounting and drivers
Give the factory the mounting arrangement, pole spacing, installation height and road layout. Agree light distribution, glare control, lumen output, colour temperature and dimming behaviour. Request photometric data for the exact lens and LED arrangement. Specify the mounting socket, adjustment range, fasteners, housing finish, sealing arrangement and access for maintenance.
Freeze the LED chip and bin, driver model, optics and housing in the bill of materials. For photovoltaic versions, agree the panel, battery, controller and operating profile as a complete system. Ask for electrical safety, electromagnetic compatibility and hazardous-substance documentation for the actual construction, plus applicable light-source ecodesign information and WEEE producer registration arrangements.
For mains models sold in Great Britain, the importer must ensure the equipment has easily understandable English instructions. Check that these explain mounting, wiring and maintenance for the supplied model. Have testing and certification scoped against the intended construction before approving production.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 400 aluminium LED street-light fittings, illustrative order under 9405 42 39 90, invoiced at £22,000 free on board, with £3,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £25,500. Duty at 2% is £510. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £26,010, so it is £5,202. Import taxes total £5,712; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £510 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Identity: compare labels, driver markings, LED components and lenses with the approved sample and bill of materials; match the model to its declaration and reports.
Mounting: trial-fit the socket and bracket to the intended pole connection; check adjustment, fastener engagement, casting defects and coating damage.
Sealing: inspect gaskets, cable glands and enclosure joints; arrange ingress testing against the claimed protection level and check for condensation after testing.
Performance: sample light output, colour, power consumption, flicker and dimming; compare beam distribution with the approved optics and check photovoltaic operation against the agreed profile.
What goes wrong
A fitting can match the catalogue wattage while using a different lens, leaving uneven road coverage or excessive glare. Driver substitutions can change dimming, heat and starting behaviour. Poorly seated seals or cable glands admit water, while a mounting socket that does not fit the pole delays installation.
Keep an approved sample and require written approval and appropriate retesting for component changes. Inspect production samples before shipment and repeat the mounting and identity checks on arrival. Investigate performance drift against the component list rather than accepting an old report for a different construction.
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 LED street lights from China?
The selected complete LED fittings carry 2% for metal or other non-plastic materials and 4% for plastics, including photovoltaic versions. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty is shown.
Do solar LED street lights use the same commodity code?
Photovoltaic LED fittings have separate lines from other LED fittings. Confirm the complete configuration and material before selecting the code.
What documents should I request for mains LED street lights?
Request the model's declaration and electrical safety, electromagnetic compatibility and hazardous-substance reports. Check applicable light-source ecodesign information, WEEE arrangements and English instructions.
How do I check whether a street light suits my road?
Compare the exact model's photometric data with the road layout, mounting height and pole spacing. Trial-fit the mounting connection and test samples against the agreed optical and electrical specification.