Sourcing pressure die-casting moulds from China
Pressure die-casting moulds from China carry 0% UK duty under heading 8480. If tooling stays in China, confirm with your customs broker or HMRC how costs you provide that are absent from the seller's price should be treated in the customs value of the imported castings. Cambridge China Bridge sources pressure die-casting moulds.
Duty on pressure die-casting moulds
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 17 October 2026, all supplied lines of heading 8480 carried 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied facts record no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspensions or attached import controls. The heading covers moulds and related tooling for several materials; this guide focuses on pressure die-casting moulds for metal.
Check the metal injection or compression mould line, 8480 41 00 00, against the actual tool specification. Separately supplied mould bases and other metal moulds have distinct lines. The table includes ancillary patterns for comparison, rather than treating them as pressure die-casting moulds. Confirm the commodity code before shipment; see moulds and tooling for the wider heading.
If your mould stays at the Chinese factory to make castings you import, ask your customs broker or HMRC whether qualifying tooling costs absent from the seller's price should be included in the castings' customs value and how to apportion them across shipments. Keep the tooling invoice and any agreed apportionment method with your customs records.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metal moulds, injection or compression types | 8480 41 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Mould bases supplied separately | 8480 20 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Other metal moulds, for comparison with pressure die-casting tools | 8480 49 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Non-wood moulding patterns, ancillary foundry tooling | 8480 30 90 00 | 0% | None |
Specify the alloy, machine interface and trial
Send the casting drawing, alloy specification and intended machine details. Agree the hot-chamber or cold-chamber process, mould envelope, mounting arrangement, shot interface and ejector layout. Specify cavity and core steel, heat treatment, hardness, cavity count, slides, cooling connections and replaceable wear parts.
Review gates, overflows, vents and any vacuum connections before steel is cut. Define acceptable dimensions, surface defects, machining allowances and any leak test for the casting. Agree trial conditions and record the machine settings alongside the approved samples.
Write ownership, exclusive use, maintenance responsibility and removal terms into the tooling agreement. For UK workplace use, the business using or providing the equipment must manage its risks. Plan installation and handling around the actual tool and machine.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: A pressure die-casting mould for a small business, illustrative under 8480 41 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
Steel and hardness: match material certificates and hardness results to the agreed cavity, core and insert specification.
Machine fit: compare mounting faces, locating features, shot interface, ejector travel and connections with the receiving machine.
Trial castings: check dimensions, flash, incomplete filling, porosity and agreed surface criteria; retain samples and the trial process record.
Arrival condition: inspect for corrosion, impact damage and missing inserts or spares. Check cooling circuits for leaks and slides and ejectors for free movement before acceptance.
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What goes wrong
A tool can produce an acceptable sample on the factory's machine yet fail on the buyer's machine because mounting, injection or ejection interfaces differ. Poor venting can leave porosity or incomplete filling; weak cooling can cause distortion, while unsuitable steel or heat treatment can shorten tool life.
Acceptance becomes difficult when the trial settings, drawing revision or maintenance duties are unclear. Set these out before ordering, retain trial reports and photograph the ownership tag. If production remains in China, settle tooling-cost apportionment before declaring the castings.
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 pressure die-casting moulds from China?
The supplied tariff facts show 0% duty for every line of heading 8480, with no recorded anti-dumping or countervailing duty. Confirm the line for your mould's construction and function.
Does a mould left in China affect customs value?
Ask your customs broker or HMRC whether qualifying tooling costs absent from the seller's price should be included in the customs value of the imported castings. Agree and document any applicable apportionment across shipments.
What should I send the mould factory?
Send the casting drawing, alloy specification, machine interface details and acceptance criteria. Agree steel, hardness, cooling, slides, ejectors, spare inserts and trial conditions.
How do I check the mould before accepting it?
Review material and hardness records, trial castings and process settings. Check machine interfaces, cooling leaks, slide and ejector movement, then inspect arrival damage and missing parts.