Sourcing loose steel bearing balls from China

6% duty on loose bearing balls

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, loose bearing balls within heading 8482 fall under the parts lines. Ordinary loose bearing balls use 8482 91 90 90; specified wind-turbine balls have a separate line. The table shows product examples sharing these codes. For assembled bearings, see deep-groove ball bearings.

Both relevant lines carry 6% duty for goods from China. The supplied extract lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension for either line. The wind-turbine line attaches a supplementary-unit import control. HMRC requires the supplementary-unit field where the code requires it; ask your customs broker to confirm the unit and quantity to declare.

Confirm the commodity code using the material, diameter, precision and intended application. Use the wind-turbine line only when the full listed description matches. Do not apply a suspension for assembled bearings or cages to loose balls. See UK import duty and VAT for the calculation method.

Specify the steel, ball precision and surface

Give the factory the steel grade, nominal ball diameter, permitted diameter variation, roundness, surface finish and hardness range. State the bearing application and whether corrosion resistance is needed. Agree the inspection method and acceptance limits before production, rather than accepting a description such as polished steel balls.

Request material and heat-treatment records linked to the production batch. Specify cleanliness, rust-preventive treatment and packing that keeps different diameters and grades separate. For sale in Great Britain, conformity marking is required only where sector-specific regulations require it; a CE or UKCA claim does not establish ball precision or steel quality.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 30 kg of loose steel bearing balls under 8482 91 90 90, invoiced at £3,000 free on board, with £150 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £3,150. Duty at 6% is £189. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £3,339, so it is £667.80. Import taxes total £856.80; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £189 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Diameter and roundness: measure samples from each batch against the drawing, checking variation within individual balls and across the batch.

Steel and hardness: match material records to batch labels and test sample hardness against the agreed range.

Surface and cleanliness: inspect for pits, scratches, flat spots, rust and embedded grinding residue, including beneath protective oil.

Packing and identity: check batch labels, grade, diameter and pack contents on arrival; look for damaged bags, moisture and mixed sizes. Plan checks through quality inspection.

What goes wrong

A shiny surface can hide poor roundness or inconsistent hardness. Mixed diameters affect load sharing, while inclusions and poor heat treatment can cause early spalling. Grinding residue and corrosion damage the contact surfaces. Assess precision and material separately from appearance.

A sample approval loses value if the production batch uses different steel or heat treatment. Keep samples and reports tied to the supplied batch, inspect on arrival and separate suspect packs before assembly. Ask for factory verification to check the maker's grinding, measurement and batch-control capability.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For machinery and equipment, see machinery imports.