Sourcing plastic strand pelletisers from China
Plastic strand pelletisers from China fall within heading 8477, whose listed duty rates are all 0%, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty recorded. New machinery sold in Great Britain must have CE or UKCA marking, a declaration of conformity and English instructions. Cambridge China Bridge sources plastic strand pelletisers.
Duty and classification for strand pelletisers
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 8477 covers machinery for working rubber or plastics and manufacturing products from those materials, where not specified elsewhere in the chapter. This guide concerns machines that feed cooled plastic strands into a cutter to produce pellets. The table includes associated extruders and machinery parts, rather than treating every component as a pelletiser.
All selected lines carry 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or import control for these lines. Cutting machinery is a candidate classification for a standalone strand pelletiser; confirm it from the actual machine design and function. Import VAT is separate from customs duty.
Give your broker the process description, drawings and shipment contents to confirm the commodity code, especially when buying a complete extrusion and pelletising line. For the wider machinery family, see plastic recycling granulators.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plastic cutting machines, a candidate line for strand pelletisers | 8477 80 95 00 | 0% | None |
| Extruders supplied alongside strand pelletisers | 8477 20 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Machinery parts of cast iron or cast steel | 8477 90 10 00 | 0% | None |
| Other plastics machinery parts | 8477 90 80 00 | 0% | None |
Specify strand feeding and pellet quality
Specify the polymer, fillers, strand diameter, strand count, inlet condition and required pellet length. Agree how throughput will be measured with your material, including acceptable fines, oversize pellets and broken strands. Define feed roller material, cutter construction, blade adjustment, sharpening arrangements and replacement parts.
State whether the quotation includes the cooling trough, strand dryer, guides and discharge equipment. Confirm alignment with the existing extrusion line, feed and cutter speed adjustment, electrical supply and access for cleaning. Request a trial using representative strands and retain labelled pellet samples.
For new machinery placed on the Great Britain market, CE or UKCA marking, a declaration of conformity and English instructions are required. Check the documents against the delivered machine. If the supplier offers partly completed machinery instead, assembly instructions and a declaration of incorporation must accompany it.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Two plastic strand pelletisers, illustrative only; classification to be confirmed under 8477 80 95 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
Feeding: run representative strands and check roller grip, tracking, strand breakage and recovery after interrupted feeding.
Cutting: compare pellet length, fines and oversize material with the agreed samples; inspect blade condition, adjustment and cutter vibration.
Safety and documents: check guards, interlocks, emergency stops and isolation arrangements; match the machine identity to its declaration and English instructions.
Arrival: inspect cutter and roller protection, corrosion, loose assemblies and shipping damage; reconcile accessories, drawings and spare parts with the packing list.
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What goes wrong
A demonstration using easy-running strands can conceal poor grip on your polymer or unstable cutting when strands arrive wet. Slipping rollers, worn blades or unsuitable adjustment can produce inconsistent pellet lengths and excessive fines. Set acceptance criteria using your material and inspect retained samples rather than accepting a video alone.
A pelletiser can perform well by itself but feed poorly when the cooling trough, dryer and strand guides are misaligned. Agree the interface drawings and responsibility for commissioning before ordering. Treat missing English instructions or a declaration that describes a different machine as issues to resolve before shipment.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For machinery and equipment, see machinery imports.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on plastic strand pelletisers from China?
The supplied tariff record shows 0% duty across heading 8477, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty recorded. Confirm the precise commodity code for your pelletiser.
Do plastic strand pelletisers need CE or UKCA marking?
New machinery placed on the Great Britain market must be CE or UKCA marked, accompanied by a declaration of conformity and supplied with English instructions.
How do I check a strand pelletiser's throughput?
Run representative strands at the agreed inlet condition. Record usable pellet output and rejected material, then compare pellet length, fines and strand breakage with your acceptance criteria.
What should I include in a strand pelletiser quotation?
Specify the polymer, strand dimensions, pellet quality, feeding arrangement and cutter. List the cooling trough, dryer, guides, controls, spare blades and commissioning scope separately.