Sourcing marine propeller hubs from China
The supplied heading 8487 lines carry 0% UK duty from China, with no anti-dumping duty recorded. Confirm the classification of a separate marine propeller hub rather than assuming the propeller code applies. Component conformity requirements depend on the applicable product rules. Cambridge China Bridge sources marine propeller hubs.
Zero duty, subject to hub classification
Heading 8487 covers ships' or boats' propellers and blades, and machinery parts without electrical features that are not specified elsewhere in the chapter. Its residual parts provisions do not automatically cover every separate hub. The table shows material-based candidate lines for hubs whose classification has been confirmed.
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, all supplied lines carry 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied extract records no anti-dumping or countervailing measures, suspensions or attached import controls. These findings concern the listed tariff lines; they do not establish the classification or product compliance of a particular hub.
Give your customs broker the drawing, material, manufacturing process, intended installation and whether the hub arrives separately or within a propeller. Confirm the commodity code before ordering. For the wider propeller and blade family, see marine propeller blades.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other cast-steel machinery parts, a candidate line for separate hubs | 8487 90 51 90 | 0% | None |
| Other forged iron or steel machinery parts, a candidate line for separate hubs | 8487 90 57 90 | 0% | None |
| Other iron or steel machinery parts, a candidate line for separate hubs | 8487 90 59 90 | 0% | None |
| Other-material machinery parts, a candidate line for separate bronze hubs | 8487 90 90 90 | 0% | None |
Specify the shaft connection and hub construction
State whether you need a solid hub, a replaceable drive insert or a hub for a controllable-pitch assembly. Supply the shaft drawing and specify the bore or taper, spline profile, keyway, seating faces, retaining arrangement and permitted runout. Define the mating propeller and shaft by drawing revision rather than relying on a model name.
Specify alloy, heat treatment, surface finish and inspection acceptance criteria. For hubs with bonded inserts, agree the insert material and a torque-slip test method. Approve a sample fitted to the intended shaft and propeller before bulk production.
Check the applicable component rules before specifying CE or UKCA marking for sale in Great Britain. Components can require individual conformity assessment and marking. UKCA marking may only be applied where legislation specifically requires it; a material certificate or dimensional report does not establish that requirement.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of 40 forged steel marine propeller hubs, assuming this classification is confirmed under 8487 90 57 90, invoiced at £27,000 free on board, with £2,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £29,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £29,000, so it is £5,800. 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: match certificates and heat identification to the hubs; verify the ordered alloy and specified hardness.
Fit: measure the bore, taper, splines, keyway and seating faces against the approved drawing; trial-fit mating parts without forcing them.
Soundness: check critical castings or forgings using the agreed defect-detection method; inspect machined edges, threads and any bonded insert.
Arrival: check corrosion, transit damage and protection of machined faces; keep batch identity with the inspection records. Plan checks through quality inspection.
Working out your own order? Send us the product on WhatsApp and we reply the same working day: WhatsApp us
What goes wrong
A hub can look correct yet seat on the wrong part of the taper, have excessive spline clearance or leave the retaining hardware poorly engaged. Casting porosity can emerge during machining, while incorrect heat treatment can leave steel hubs too soft or brittle.
Keep the approved drawing and mating sample under revision control. Agree how failed fits, material substitutions and insert slippage will be handled before production. Assess an unfamiliar hub through testing and certification before approving it for its intended installation.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on marine propeller hubs from China?
The supplied heading 8487 lines carry 0% duty from China, with no anti-dumping duty recorded. Confirm which line applies to the separate hub before relying on that rate.
Can I use the boat propeller code for a separate hub?
Do not assume so. The supplied propeller lines name propellers and blades, without explicitly naming hubs. Ask your broker to classify the hub from its drawing, material and intended use.
Do marine propeller hubs need CE or UKCA marking?
Check the applicable component rules for the supplied hub. Components can need individual conformity assessment and marking. UKCA marking may only be applied where legislation specifically requires it.
What should I send the Chinese factory?
Send the approved hub and shaft drawings, alloy, heat treatment, fit tolerances, retaining arrangement and inspection criteria. Include mating samples where practical and approve the trial fit before bulk production.