Sourcing pneumatic chain hoists from China

Zero duty on pneumatic chain hoists

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, pneumatic chain hoists fall within heading 8425, under pulley tackle and hoists other than skip hoists or hoists used for raising vehicles. The non-electric line is 8425 19 00 00. The table shows configurations sharing that code, rather than separate tariff subdivisions.

The supplied tariff facts record 0% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measures, suspensions or attached import controls for this line. Zero duty does not remove machinery safety obligations.

Confirm the commodity code against the complete supplied assembly, including its trolley and drive arrangement. For the wider heading and electrically driven alternatives, see electric chain hoists.

Specify the air supply and lifting arrangement

State the rated load, lifting height, headroom, suspension arrangement and trolley compatibility. Agree operating air pressure, air consumption under load, hose bore, inlet connection, filtration and lubrication requirements. Specify pendant or pull-cord control, lifting and lowering behaviour, exhaust routing, silencer and replacement chain, hooks and brake parts.

For sale in Great Britain, confirm with HSE the applicable requirements for lifting machinery, including UKCA or CE marking, a declaration of conformity, English instructions, rated load marking and static and dynamic test records. Ensure the technical file is compiled and available on request. Use testing and certification support to review the model and evidence before ordering.

For workplace use, lifting operations must be planned by a competent person, appropriately supervised and carried out safely. Confirm employers' applicable thorough-examination duties under LOLER with HSE; agree the installation and examination arrangements with the customer.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 40 pneumatic chain hoists; illustrative order, not a quotation under 8425 19 00 00, invoiced at £28,000 free on board, with £4,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £32,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £32,000, so it is £6,400. 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

Air supply: check the inlet and hose match the specification, record pressure at the hoist during lifting, and check air leakage, lubrication arrangements and exhaust routing.

Load path: check chain grade and pitch against the agreed specification, chain engagement, hook opening, safety latches, suspension hardware and trolley fit.

Brake and controls: have a competent tester check rated-load lifting and lowering, brake holding, control return and behaviour when the air supply is interrupted, following the manufacturer's procedure.

Documents and packing: match serial numbers to test records, rated load markings, declaration and English manual. On arrival, check chains and controls for transit damage and corrosion. Agree these checks in the inspection brief.

What goes wrong

A hoist demonstrated unloaded can still struggle on the buyer's air system. Check performance with the agreed load and supply arrangement: restrictive hoses, unsuitable connections and leaks can undermine the demonstration. Also look for brake slip, damaged chain guides and chain that does not match the pocket wheel.

A generic certificate can describe a different model or load rating. Match the delivered hoist, plate, declaration and test records before accepting the batch. Keep spare-part identification tied to the actual chain, motor and brake assembly.

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.