Sourcing plastic thermoforming moulds from China
Plastic thermoforming moulds from China carry 0% UK duty under heading 8480, with no duty variation across its lines. If your mould stays in China to make imported goods, ask your customs broker how tooling costs not included in the seller's price should be treated in their customs value. Cambridge China Bridge sources plastic thermoforming moulds.
Duty on thermoforming moulds and related tooling
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 8480 covers moulds for plastics alongside mould bases and moulding patterns. Plastic thermoforming tools belong in the other moulds category rather than the injection or compression category; confirm the classification against the actual tool. The table includes separately supplied bases and manufacturing patterns, which are different goods from a finished forming mould.
Every supplied line carries 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff data records no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspensions or attached import controls. If you pay for a mould that remains in China to produce imported goods, ask your customs broker how any tooling cost absent from the seller's price should be treated in those goods' customs value.
Send your broker the tool drawing, forming process and description of what is shipped to confirm the commodity code. See the wider moulds and tooling guide for other mould types and tooling ownership.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plastic thermoforming moulds, other than injection or compression types | 8480 79 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Mould bases supplied separately | 8480 20 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Non-wood moulding patterns for tooling manufacture | 8480 30 90 00 | 0% | None |
| Wooden moulding patterns for tooling manufacture | 8480 30 10 00 | 0% | None |
Specify the forming surface and machine interface
State the plastic sheet material, sheet thickness, finished part drawing and whether forming uses vacuum, pressure or both. Specify male or female tooling, cavity layout, draft, corner radii, surface finish and shrinkage allowance. Agree how the trial will demonstrate wall thickness, release and finished dimensions using your intended sheet.
Provide the machine mounting drawing, platen space, fixing positions and connections for vacuum, air and cooling. Specify tool material, cooling layout, removable inserts and identification marks. HSE includes tools used at work within its definition of work equipment. Arrange a machine-fit review before dispatch and a controlled trial after installation.
Put ownership, exclusive use, maintenance responsibility and removal arrangements in the tooling agreement. Identify the approved drawing revision and record any factory changes before machining.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: A production thermoforming mould for plastic trays, illustrative only under 8480 79 00 00, invoiced at £20,000 free on board, with £2,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £22,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £22,000, so it is £4,400. 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
Forming surface: compare cavities, draft, radii and finish with the approved drawing; check for machining marks and blocked vacuum holes.
Connections and cooling: check mounting positions, connector types and vacuum passage continuity; pressure-test cooling circuits for leaks.
Trial parts: form the intended sheet and inspect corner thinning, webbing, surface marks, release and dimensions against the approved sample.
Arrival condition: check for transit damage, corrosion and loose inserts; reconcile the tool identification, drawings and supplied components before installation.
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What goes wrong
Restricted vacuum passages leave detail poorly formed, while unsuitable cavity spacing can cause webbing between parts. Uneven cooling causes distortion or inconsistent release. A convincing sample made with a different sheet or machine setting can hide these problems. Keep the trial sheet specification and process record with the approved samples.
A tool can produce acceptable parts yet fail to fit your machine because fixing positions or connections differ. Review the interface drawing before machining and repeat the checks on arrival. Agree who supplies replacement inserts and how repairs will be approved.
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 thermoforming moulds from China?
The supplied tariff data shows 0% under 8480 79 00 00, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspensions or attached import controls.
Does a mould left in China affect import duty on the trays?
Confirm with your customs broker whether and how tooling costs not already included in the seller's price should be included in the customs value of the imported goods. Keep the tooling invoice and agreed apportionment method.
What should I send the mould maker?
Send the part drawing, sheet material and thickness, forming method, machine interface drawing, surface finish and acceptance criteria for trial parts.
How do I approve a thermoforming mould?
Check machine fit, vacuum passages and cooling circuits, then approve parts formed with your intended sheet against the drawing and retained samples.