Sourcing petrol engines and outboards from China
Spark-ignition petrol engines from China pay 2% to 6% UK duty: outboard motors up to 325 cc 6%, larger outboards and other marine engines 4%, small vehicle and general-purpose engines up to 250 cc 2%, with no anti-dumping duty. Engines for non-road machinery need emission type approval, and boat engines fall under the recreational craft rules. Cambridge China Bridge sources them.
Small petrol engines, outboard motors and vehicle engines pay 2% to 6% UK duty from China. Non-road emission approval and boat engine rules explained.
Duty by engine type
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 25 September 2026, the rates below applied to spark-ignition reciprocating or rotary engines from China, with no anti-dumping measure. Large vehicle engines over 1,000 cc have a more complex tariff line, so check it separately.
Diesel engines are in heading 8408, and engine parts in 8409, covered in the engine parts guide. Confirm the commodity code.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outboard motors up to 325 cc | 8407 21 10 00 | 6% | None |
| Outboard motors over 325 cc, up to 30 kW | 8407 21 91 00 | 4% | None |
| Other marine propulsion engines | 8407 29 00 00 | 4% | None |
| Vehicle engines up to 50 cc | 8407 31 00 00 | 2% | None |
| Vehicle engines 125 to 250 cc | 8407 32 90 00 | 2% | None |
| Other engines up to 250 cc, such as small general-purpose engines | 8407 90 10 90 | 2% | None |
| Other engines over 250 cc, up to 10 kW | 8407 90 80 90 | 4% | None |
Non-road emission approval
Engines placed on the market for non-road mobile machinery, such as generators, pumps, mowers and small construction plant, must be type-approved under the retained non-road mobile machinery emissions regulation, and carry the approval marking and engine label. Ask for the approval certificate for the exact engine family before ordering.
Boat engines
Outboard and inboard propulsion engines for recreational craft fall under the Recreational Craft Regulations 2017, which set exhaust and noise emission requirements and conformity marking. Check the certificate covers the model and power rating you are buying.
Spares and testing
Agree a spare parts list, service manual in English and warranty handling, and run engines on a test bench before shipment. Fuel must be drained for shipping, and engines with fuel residue may be dangerous goods. At inspection, check serial numbers against the approval label.
Cambridge China Bridge sources petrol engines and outboard motors, with emission approval, spares and shipping settled before the order. See how our sourcing service works.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on outboard motors from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 25 September 2026, outboards up to 325 cc carried 6%, and larger outboards up to 30 kW 4%.
What duty applies to small petrol engines?
Other spark-ignition engines up to 250 cc carried 2% from China, and those over 250 cc up to 10 kW 4%.
Do generator engines need emission approval?
Yes. Engines for non-road mobile machinery must be type-approved under the retained non-road emissions regulation.
Which rules apply to boat engines?
The Recreational Craft Regulations 2017 set exhaust and noise emission requirements for propulsion engines.