Sourcing portable butane gas heaters from China
Portable butane gas heaters of iron or steel from China carry 2% UK duty, with the listed parts also at 2%. Before sale in Great Britain, gas appliance conformity assessment must cover the model and its intended gas supply. Cambridge China Bridge sources portable butane gas heaters.
UK duty on portable butane heaters
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, heading 7321 covers non-electric domestic appliances of iron or steel and their parts. Portable butane heaters fall within the gas-fuelled other-appliances line, 7321 81 00 00. The table shows design variants sharing that code, rather than separate tariff subdivisions. For pellet-fuelled heating, see our non-electric wood pellet stove guide.
The supplied tariff data gives 2% duty for these heaters and the parts line, 7321 90 00 00, for goods from China. It records no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspensions or attached import controls for these lines. Import VAT is 20%. A clear tariff entry does not establish product safety compliance.
Confirm the material, domestic function and contents of the shipment using the commodity code guide. Do not automatically classify separately shipped valves or regulators as heater parts. For cooking appliances within the wider heading, see gas camping stoves. For alcohol-fuelled cooking equipment, see our alcohol camping stove sourcing guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portable butane cartridge heaters of iron or steel | 7321 81 00 00 | 2% | None |
| Iron or steel parts of portable butane heaters | 7321 90 00 00 | 2% | None |
Specify the butane supply and intended setting
State whether the heater connects to a cartridge or a cylinder. Agree the exact container connection, regulator arrangement, gas supply pressure, burner construction, heat settings, guard, handle and base. Record the intended setting and use restrictions in the specification; do not accept an outdoor demonstration as evidence for enclosed-space use. For patio heating equipment, see our gas patio heater sourcing guide.
Gas heaters are covered by the gas appliance rules in Great Britain. Obtain the conformity-assessment certificate covering the exact model and gas category, the declaration of conformity and the relevant CE or UKCA marking evidence. Match the certificate to the burner, valve and safety-device configuration being ordered. Use testing and certification to organise the document review.
Instructions must be in clear, legible English. Importers must check the manufacturer's conformity assessment and provide their name and postal address on the equipment, or where this is not possible, on its packaging or accompanying documentation. For indoor models, ask your compliance adviser to establish the applicable ecodesign requirements before approving the specification.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 200 portable butane heaters; illustrative order, not a quotation under 7321 81 00 00, invoiced at £16,000 free on board, with £2,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £18,000. Duty at 2% is £360. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £18,360, so it is £3,672. Import taxes total £4,032; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £360 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Connection: compare the cartridge latch or cylinder connection, seals and regulator supplied with the approved sample. Have a competent tester check for leakage using the agreed procedure.
Operation: check ignition, adjustment and flame stability with the specified butane supply. Test flame-failure shutdown and any fitted tip-over or oxygen-depletion device against the approved test plan.
Construction: inspect the burner or ceramic panel for damage, the guard for secure attachment, and the base and handle for stability and looseness. Repeat these checks on arrival after unpacking.
Documents: match model identification, gas category and supply pressure across the appliance, certificate and manual. Check the use restrictions and warnings against the approved artwork; retain the results with the inspection record.
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What goes wrong
Watch for certificates naming another model, a cartridge latch that does not secure the specified container, substituted valves, cracked radiant panels and guards bent in transit. A heater that lights successfully can still have a leaking connection or ineffective shutdown device.
Keep the approved sample, component list and packaging artwork with the purchase specification. Investigate differences before releasing stock for sale. Avoid advertising enclosed-space use unless the model's compliance evidence and instructions support that use.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For repeat volumes, see container programmes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on butane heaters from China?
The supplied tariff data records 2% for portable gas heaters of iron or steel under 7321 81 00 00 and parts under 7321 90 00 00, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty.
Is a supplier's CE certificate enough?
Check the issuing body's status, exact model, gas category and supply pressure, together with the declaration and production assessment. A generic laboratory certificate does not establish conformity.
Can I sell a camping heater for indoor use?
Do not assume so. Check whether the model's assessment and instructions support that setting. Have a compliance adviser establish the requirements for the intended indoor use before ordering.
What should I check when the heaters arrive?
Check connections, seals, guards, radiant panels, model labels and manuals against the approved sample. Arrange competent testing of leakage, ignition and the fitted shutdown devices before releasing stock.