Sourcing mineral gear oils from China
Finished mineral gear oils from China pay 2% UK duty; qualifying base oils have suspensions giving a 0% to 2% range across the related lines. Hazardous oils supplied for workplace use need a safety data sheet. Check crude-origin evidence before shipping. Cambridge China Bridge sources mineral gear oils.
Duty on mineral gear oils
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, finished gear and reductor oils under 2710 19 87 00 carry 2% duty from China. Heading 2710 covers petroleum oils and preparations containing at least 70% petroleum oils by weight as their basic constituents, as well as waste oils. This guide concerns new mineral gear oils, not waste oil.
The table includes finished gear oil and related base oils bought for blending. The listed base-oil lines carry 2% ordinary duty with 0% suspensions, subject to their precise descriptions. These suspensions exclude mixtures and preparations containing the base oils; they do not give finished gear oil a suspension. The selected lines show no anti-dumping or countervailing duty. For the wider heading, see mineral hydraulic oils.
The tariff attaches import control on restricted goods and technologies. Imports of sanctioned relevant processed oil products are prohibited. Official guidance calls for evidence that oil was not produced using Russian crude oil. Obtain supply-chain records and have your customs broker confirm the sanctions requirement before shipment. Confirm the commodity code against the formulation and intended use.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Finished mineral gear oils and reductor oils | 2710 19 87 00 | 2% | None |
| Hydroisomerised and dewaxed base oil within the listed composition and viscosity limits | 2710 19 81 30 | 2% | None |
| Hydroisomerised and dewaxed base oil, viscosity index 80 or more but below 120 | 2710 19 99 40 | 2% | None |
| Hydroisomerised and dewaxed base oil, viscosity index 120 or more | 2710 19 99 60 | 2% | None |
Specify the gearbox application and oil formulation
State whether the oil is for an automotive gearbox, axle or industrial reducer. Specify viscosity grade, operating conditions, extreme-pressure performance, corrosion behaviour and compatibility with seals and any yellow-metal components. Ask for evidence supporting equipment-maker compatibility claims. Agree the mineral base oil, additive package and written approval of formulation changes.
For hazardous oils supplied for workplace use, a safety data sheet is required. Obtain an English safety data sheet for the GB market and settle labels against the hazard classification, as explained in the published lubricant guide. UK REACH registration applies to substances in mixtures; check the registration position of the imported constituents. Agree batch testing through testing and certification.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 4 tonnes of mineral gear oil in drums under 2710 19 87 00, invoiced at £4,000 free on board, with £1,800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £5,800. Duty at 2% is £116. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £5,916, so it is £1,183.20. Import taxes total £1,299.20; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £116 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Viscosity: compare independent batch results with the agreed grade and certificate of analysis; keep a sealed, identified retained sample.
Performance: check the evidence for extreme-pressure, corrosion and compatibility claims against the intended gearbox, rather than accepting a generic lubricant report.
Contamination: examine samples for sediment and separation, and test water and particle contamination against the purchase specification.
Packs and documents: check closures for leaks, drum damage, fill quantity, batch identification and label consistency with the safety data sheet; match origin records to the shipment.
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What goes wrong
A matching viscosity does not establish matching gear protection. An altered additive package can leave the delivered oil unsuitable for the agreed gearbox application. Other faults include water contamination, sediment, unsupported compatibility claims and leaking closures. Make batch acceptance depend on the agreed test results and pack checks.
A Chinese blending address does not establish the upstream crude source. Missing refinery or supply-chain records can leave the sanctions check unresolved. Obtain those records before loading, and use quality inspection to check the actual batch rather than relying on an earlier sample.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on mineral gear oil from China?
Finished gear and reductor oils under 2710 19 87 00 carry 2% duty in the supplied tariff reading, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension.
Do mineral gear oils need a safety data sheet?
Hazardous oils supplied for workplace use need one. Obtain an English safety data sheet for the GB market and check the hazard label against it.
Can I substitute hydraulic oil for mineral gear oil?
Do not substitute on viscosity alone. Check the equipment specification and the required extreme-pressure, corrosion and seal-compatibility performance.
What origin evidence should I request from a Chinese oil supplier?
Request records demonstrating that the oil was not produced using Russian crude oil, tied to the shipment. Have your customs broker confirm the sanctions requirement before dispatch.