Sourcing mattocks from China

Mattock duty and classification

Heading 8201 covers agricultural, horticultural and forestry hand tools. Mattocks share commodity code 8201 30 00 00 with picks, hoes and rakes. The table shows mattock variants within that same commodity line, rather than separate tariff classifications.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, mattocks from China carried 0% duty. The supplied record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension, steel measure or attached import control for this line. Import VAT is separate from customs duty.

Confirm the supplied design using finding your commodity code. For other tools within the heading, see the garden hand tools guide.

Specify the mattock head and handle together

Choose a pick mattock with a pointed end or a cutter mattock with an axe-like end opposite the digging blade. Specify head mass, blade width, eye dimensions, steel grade, heat treatment and hardness. Agree the edge profile against an approved sample so the factory does not substitute a different head shape.

Specify handle material, length, grip and the head retention method. For wooden handles, agree timber species, grain quality and fit through the eye. For fibreglass handles, check the connection and grip attachment. Set an agreed strength test that checks the assembled tool for movement, cracking and permanent deformation.

Mattocks supplied for consumer use in Great Britain must be safe under general product safety law. Agree protective packing for cutting edges and handling instructions suited to the supplied tool.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 450 wooden-handled pick mattocks; values are illustrative. under 8201 30 00 00, invoiced at £4,500 free on board, with £450 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £4,950. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £4,950, so it is £990. 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

Head: compare mass, blade profile and eye dimensions with the drawing; check hardness against the agreed specification and inspect for cracks, burrs and uneven grinding.

Handle: check wooden grain and knots around the head connection, or inspect fibreglass for cracks and exposed fibres; check grip attachment and handle alignment.

Assembly: test head retention using the agreed method; inspect again for movement, split timber, damaged connections and permanent bending.

Arrival: check edge protection, carton damage, rust and handle damage before releasing stock. Use quality inspection to record defects against the approved sample.

What goes wrong

A head can look correct while its heat treatment differs from the approved sample. Soft edges deform; brittle edges can chip. Poorly matched eyes and handles allow movement, while cross grain or knots near the connection weaken wooden handles. Check the assembled tool as well as the separate components.

Heavy heads can damage handles and cut through packing during transport. Specify how each tool is restrained and how edges are protected. On arrival, isolate tools with loose heads, cracks or chipped edges and compare the defects with retained samples before accepting replacement stock.

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.