Sourcing nickel bellows from China

0% duty on other articles of nickel

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, heading 7508 covers other articles of nickel. Its other-articles line, 7508 90 00 00, carries 0% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measure and no suspension recorded. The table shows bellows variants sharing this broad line, subject to classification confirmation.

The tariff attaches import and export waste controls to this line. For a shipment from China to England that falls under waste notification controls, the competent authorities of dispatch, destination and transit must consent before shipment. Ask your customs broker to confirm the applicable requirement, particularly for discarded or scrap bellows.

Confirm the commodity code using the material, drawing and intended function, including whether you are buying a bellows component or a complete assembly. For the wider nickel product range, see our nickel bars, wire and mesh guide.

Specify movement, material and leak performance

Specify the nickel or nickel-alloy grade, manufacturing method, wall thickness, convolution profile, free length, end connections and dimensional tolerances. Give the supplier the operating temperature, fluid, internal or external pressure, axial travel, lateral movement and expected operating cycles. Agree the spring rate, leak-test method and acceptance criteria with the equipment designer.

For pressure service, ask the designer to establish the applicable regulatory scope before approving production. The Pressure Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 regulate pressure equipment and assemblies with maximum allowable pressure greater than 0.5 bar. Assess applicability to the supplied component or assembly rather than assuming every bellows has the same status.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative batch of custom nickel bellows for an engineering business under 7508 90 00 00, invoiced at £30,000 free on board, with £800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £30,800. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £30,800, so it is £6,160. 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: compare alloy identification with the material certificate and match heat or batch references to the delivered bellows.

Geometry: measure free length, diameters and end connections against the drawing; inspect convolutions for dents, uneven spacing and handling damage.

Integrity: check welds and the agreed leak-test records, with results traceable to the delivered parts and the stated test conditions.

Movement and packing: check agreed travel and spring response without exceeding the approved test conditions; inspect supports and separators for protection against crushing.

What goes wrong

A bellows can fit the connection but have the wrong spring rate or usable travel. An unapproved change in wall thickness or convolution geometry can alter its response. Weld leaks, damaged convolutions and certificates that cannot be matched to the shipment are reasons to hold acceptance pending investigation.

Approve the drawing and test conditions before manufacture, then compare the delivered batch with that agreement. Keep inspection records tied to the parts rather than accepting a generic catalogue test. Use our quality inspection guide to prepare the inspection brief.

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.