Sourcing plastic granulators from China
Plastic recycling granulators from China fall within heading 8477, with a duty range of 0% across the selected machinery and parts lines. Machinery must be safe before it is placed on the Great Britain market or put into service. Check guarding and test your actual feedstock. Cambridge China Bridge sources plastic recycling granulators.
Duty on granulators and associated parts
Heading 8477 covers machinery for working rubber or plastics and its parts. Plastic recycling granulators reduce scrap into smaller pieces and are covered by the size reduction equipment line. The table also includes associated cutting machinery and parts; these are separate goods descriptions, not alternative codes for every granulator.
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 5 October 2026, the selected lines carried 0% duty on goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duties, suspensions or attached import controls for these lines. Import VAT is separate from customs duty.
Confirm the commodity code against the machine's function and the description of separately supplied parts. For the wider plastics machinery heading and downstream processing, see plastic extrusion lines.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plastic recycling granulators and other size reduction equipment | 8477 80 91 00 | 0% | None |
| Plastic cutting machines supplied alongside granulators | 8477 80 95 00 | 0% | None |
| Parts of plastics machinery, of cast iron or cast steel | 8477 90 10 00 | 0% | None |
| Other parts of plastics machinery | 8477 90 80 00 | 0% | None |
Specify the feedstock, rotor and screen
Describe the plastics and scrap forms you will process: rigid mouldings, sprues, bottles or film. Send representative material, including its usual contamination and moisture condition. Agree the required output size and a trial that records usable output, fines, blockages and power consumption against the quotation.
Specify the feed opening, rotor arrangement, blade material, sharpening method, blade clearance and interchangeable screens. Agree access for cleaning and screen changes, dust extraction connections, noise information and electrical supply. For blade granulators, ask how the maker applied EN 12012-1 and request the declaration of conformity and supporting safety documentation.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Two plastic recycling granulators, illustrative order only under 8477 80 91 00, invoiced at £64,000 free on board, with £5,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £69,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £69,000, so it is £13,800. 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
Feedstock trial: run your representative scrap and compare output size, fines and sustained throughput with the agreed specification. Retain samples and the test record.
Guarding: check hopper access, chamber and screen-door interlocks, emergency stops and rotor run-down behaviour during a controlled factory test. Check for damaged or missing guards again on arrival.
Rotor and screens: inspect blade edges, fixings, clearances, screen fit and bearing condition. Look for rubbing, vibration and trapped material after the trial.
Documents and arrival: match the machine identity to its declaration, manual and wiring diagrams. Check English instructions, supply details, spare blade and screen references, corrosion protection and transport damage. Use a quality inspection to record discrepancies.
What goes wrong
A demonstration with clean rigid scrap can hide poor performance on film or contaminated material. Flexible scrap may wrap around the rotor, unsuitable screens can restrict discharge, and worn or poorly set blades can produce excessive fines. Make acceptance depend on your material and agreed output, rather than an unloaded demonstration.
Accessible blades, ineffective interlocks and unexplained rotor run-down need resolving before acceptance. Machinery must be safe before it is placed on the Great Britain market or put into service. Agree replacement blade and screen drawings, sharpening instructions and software access before shipment so maintenance does not depend on unidentified parts.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on plastic granulators from China?
The supplied tariff record shows 0% for size reduction equipment under 8477 80 91 00, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty. Import VAT is separate.
Can I test a granulator with my own plastic scrap?
Make a representative feedstock trial part of acceptance. Agree output size, usable throughput, fines and blockage checks, and retain samples and the test record.
Which safety standard covers blade granulators?
The site's published machinery guide identifies EN 12012-1 for blade granulators. Ask the maker which standards it applied and request its declaration and supporting documentation.
What spare parts should I agree before ordering?
Agree blade and screen drawings, material specifications, sharpening instructions, fixings and bearing references. Check that the supplied parts match the machine and can be identified for repeat orders.