Sourcing nickel laboratory crucibles from China

Duty on nickel laboratory crucibles

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 25 October 2026, heading 7508 covers other articles of nickel. Nickel laboratory crucibles fall within the other articles line, 7508 90 00 00, subject to confirmation of their material and construction. The table shows product variants sharing that line. For the wider product family, see nickel bars, wire and mesh.

The supplied tariff record shows 0% duty for goods from China, no anti-dumping or countervailing measure and no suspension. It attaches import and export waste controls. For a China-to-England shipment subject to waste notification controls, the exporter must apply to the dispatch country's competent authority for consent. Ask your customs broker to confirm the requirements if goods are discarded, contaminated or supplied for recovery.

Confirm the commodity code using the composition, photographs and intended supply condition. Describe finished crucibles accurately rather than using a generic nickel goods description. See UK import duty and VAT when preparing the landed-cost calculation.

Specify the crucible and the laboratory method

Specify solid nickel or the named nickel alloy, composition, capacity, rim diameter, height, wall and base thickness, tolerances, surface finish and lid arrangement. State whether dimensions refer to the inside or outside. Ask for material certificates linked to the production batch.

Give the factory your heating cycle, reagents, cleaning method and acceptable sample contamination. Approve a sample in your own laboratory method before accepting the batch. Finished imported articles are not subject to UK REACH authorisation; assess the actual composition and use separately rather than treating this as a general compliance clearance.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative trial batch of nickel laboratory crucibles with lids under 7508 90 00 00, invoiced at £1,200 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £2,100. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £2,100, so it is £420. 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 sampled crucibles with the material certificate and verify composition; investigate any evidence of a plated core.

Dimensions: measure rim diameter, height, wall and base thickness against the drawing, and check that the crucible sits steadily.

Surface and lid: inspect for cracks, pinholes, burrs and forming damage; check lid seating and handling with the intended tongs.

Cleanliness and packing: check for oil, polishing residue and trapped debris, then run the agreed blank test. Check separation between pieces and batch identification. Use the quality inspection guide to prepare the inspection brief.

What goes wrong

A crucible can match the catalogue photograph while having the wrong composition, a thin base or a poorly fitting lid. Forming damage and residue can affect laboratory results. A material certificate alone does not demonstrate performance in your heating and analytical method.

Record the approved sample, drawing and laboratory acceptance checks in the purchase order. Investigate distorted rims, rocking bases and unexpected blank results before releasing the batch for use.

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.