Sourcing plummer block housings from China
Plummer block bearing housings from China carry 2% to 6% UK duty, depending on their construction and whether bearings are included; separately imported housing parts carry 0%. Workplace supply duties include safe-use information and necessary testing. Cambridge China Bridge sources plummer block bearing housings.
Duty depends on what the housing contains
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 8483 covers bearing housings alongside shafts, gears and other transmission components. For plummer blocks, distinguish an empty housing from a housing incorporating ball or roller bearings, and from separately imported housing parts.
Goods from China carry 6% for housings incorporating ball or roller bearings, 4% for other empty housings intended for those bearings, and 2% for other empty bearing housings. Other housing parts carry 0%. These selected lines show no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, tariff suspension or attached import control. The specialised turbocharger housing suspensions are outside this plummer block selection.
Confirm the commodity code using the drawing, bearing type and packing list, including whether bearings arrive incorporated in the housing. For the rest of the heading, see gearboxes and transmission parts. For belt drives, see our timing belt pulley sourcing guide. For bevel gearing, see our bevel gear sourcing guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plummer block housings supplied with ball or roller bearings | 8483 20 00 00 | 6% | None |
| Empty plummer block housings for ball or roller bearings | 8483 30 32 90 | 4% | None |
| Other bearing housings without ball or roller bearings | 8483 30 38 99 | 2% | None |
| Parts of bearing housings, other | 8483 90 20 90 | 0% | None |
Specify the bearing seat and mounting arrangement
Specify split or solid construction, casting material, bearing designation, shaft diameter, bearing seat dimensions and tolerances, shaft centre height, base dimensions and mounting slots. State whether the order includes bearings, adapter sleeves, locating rings, seals, end covers and fasteners. For replacements, approve a drawing and trial assembly rather than relying on a matching catalogue description.
Give the factory the radial and axial loads, shaft speed, operating temperature and exposure to dust or water. Agree the locating or floating arrangement, lubrication passages, grease fittings and corrosion protection. Workplace supply duties include safe-use information and instructions, and testing or examination necessary for compliance. Ask for mounting, tightening and lubrication instructions suited to the supplied assembly.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 300 empty plummer block bearing housings under 8483 30 32 90, invoiced at £8,000 free on board, with £1,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £9,200. Duty at 4% is £368. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £9,568, so it is £1,913.60. Import taxes total £2,281.60; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £368 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Dimensions: measure bearing seats, shaft centre height, mounting slots and base flatness against the approved drawing, before shipment and on arrival.
Castings: check for cracks, porosity, damaged feet, burrs and paint on machined surfaces. Match material certificates to the production batch.
Assembly: keep split caps paired with their bases; trial-fit the specified bearing, sleeve, locating rings, seals and end covers. Check fastener fit and lubrication passages.
Packing: verify included components, casting identification and rust protection. Check arrival damage and moisture before releasing stock; use the inspection guide to plan the checks.
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What goes wrong
A housing can match the outside dimensions but have the wrong bearing seat, shaft centre height or seal arrangement. Mixed caps and bases can spoil fit; casting defects and uneven feet can undermine mounting. Bearing or seal substitutions can change how the assembly performs.
Agree acceptance criteria before production and retain an approved sample. Keep damaged or mismatched arrivals separate until their condition is assessed. For assemblies supplied with bearings, trial-run a sample in the intended mounting and record temperature, noise and grease leakage against the agreed limits.
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 plummer blocks from China?
Housings with ball or roller bearings carry 6%; empty housings for those bearings carry 4%; other empty housings carry 2%. Other housing parts carry 0%. No trade remedies appear on these selected lines.
Does including the bearing change the commodity code?
Yes. A housing incorporating ball or roller bearings has a different tariff line from an empty housing. Confirm the actual shipped configuration, rather than using the supplier's catalogue code.
What should I specify for a replacement plummer block?
Specify the bearing designation, shaft diameter, seat tolerances, shaft centre height, mounting slots, seals and locating arrangement. Trial-fit a sample to the existing shaft and mounting.
What should I check when bearing housings arrive?
Check casting damage, corrosion, cap and base pairing, bearing seats, mounting dimensions and included accessories. Keep suspect units separate and compare them with the approved drawing and sample.