Sourcing refrigerated containers from China

Duty and refrigerant controls

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 21 October 2026, heading 8609 covers containers specially designed and equipped for carriage by one or more modes of transport. Refrigerated shipping containers fall within the other-containers line, 8609 00 90 00, carrying 0% duty from China. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty or suspension is listed. The table shows buying variants sharing this commodity line.

The tariff attaches a restriction on entry into free circulation and fluorinated greenhouse gas import control. New refrigeration equipment must not use ozone-depleting substances. Imported fluorinated gas equipment needs correct labelling, and banned equipment cannot be placed on the Great Britain market. Ask your customs broker to confirm registration, quota authorisations, declarations and reporting for the refrigerant and annual import volume. The tariff also attaches a DCMS Export Licence control; confirm its applicability with your broker.

Confirm the complete container's condition and configuration using finding your commodity code. See the wider shipping container guide for transport approval and structural checks. Import VAT applies when containers are imported to stay in the UK; see UK import duty and VAT.

Specify the refrigeration unit and insulated body

State whether the container is new, used or refurbished. Specify internal usable dimensions, payload, floor loading, insulation, door opening and drainage. Identify the refrigeration unit's manufacturer, model and serial number, refrigerant and charge quantity. Match the power supply, connector and cable to the intended depot or site.

Agree the cargo temperature range, ambient test conditions, loading pattern, ventilation, defrost operation and temperature recording. Ask for cooling and temperature-holding records tied to the actual unit. For used equipment, request service history and details of compressor, controller and panel repairs. Agree access to replacement parts before ordering.

For a container used in international transport, confirm safety approval plate and examination scheme requirements with the relevant authority. Match the plate and approval documents to the container serial number, as explained in the wider container guide.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Ten used refrigerated shipping containers, illustrative only under 8609 00 90 00, invoiced at £32,000 free on board, with £6,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £38,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £38,000, so it is £7,600. 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

Identity and documents: match container and refrigeration unit serial numbers to the order, approval paperwork, refrigerant label and service records.

Cooling performance: witness pull-down and temperature holding under the agreed conditions; compare independent temperature readings with the controller and check alarms, fans and defrost.

Insulated body: inspect door seals, panel joints, repairs, floor channels and drains for damage, water ingress, contamination and blocked airflow.

Arrival condition: photograph impacts and corrosion, check locking bars, cable and connector condition, and repeat the agreed operating checks before accepting the unit.

What goes wrong

A controller showing the set temperature does not establish that the cargo space holds it. Worn compressors, leaking refrigerant circuits, damaged insulation and blocked floor channels can undermine cooling. Poor door seals admit warm air, while patched panels can conceal wet insulation.

Used units may arrive with a different refrigerant, missing service records or an unavailable controller. Put the exact unit identity and acceptance tests in the purchase order. Resolve missing refrigerant information and customs documentation before release from the factory.

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.