Sourcing washer drums from China

Duty and classification for replacement drums

Heading 8450 covers household or laundry-type washing machines, including machines which both wash and dry, and includes a parts line. Replacement drums are the focus here. The table shows supply configurations against the same candidate parts code, rather than separate tariff lines. See the washing machine guide for complete machines. For tunnel washer purchases, see our tunnel washer sourcing guide.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, the parts line 8450 90 00 00 carries 2% duty for goods from China. The supplied data lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspensions or attached import controls.

Give your customs broker drawings, photographs, the intended washing machine models and a list of included components to confirm the commodity code. Describe whether the shipment contains an inner drum alone or an assembled drum and outer tub.

Specify the drum, shaft and mating parts

Identify the machine model and production variant using its identification plate and existing part reference. Agree whether the order includes the inner drum, spider, shaft, bearings, seals, outer tub or pulley. Specify material, drum dimensions, perforations, lifters, shaft profile, bearing seats, seal contact surface and mounting interfaces against approved drawings and a sample.

Importers of consumer products are responsible for their safety. For household replacement drums, request evidence from installation and loaded operation in the intended machine. Agree acceptance criteria for clearance, leakage, vibration and bearing noise, plus installation guidance and packaging that protects the drum rim and shaft.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 400 replacement washing machine drum and tub assemblies under 8450 90 00 00, invoiced at £60,000 free on board, with £6,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £66,000. Duty at 2% is £1,320. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £67,320, so it is £13,464. Import taxes total £14,784; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,320 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Identity and fit: match part references and supplied components to the order; check drum dimensions, shaft profile, pulley interface and bearing seats against the approved drawing.

Surface and structure: inspect perforations and seams for burrs that could snag laundry; check lifters, spider attachment, welds and drum rim for damage or looseness.

Installed operation: fit a sample in the intended machine and run loaded wash and spin cycles; check clearance, rubbing, leakage, vibration and bearing noise.

Arrival and packing: inspect for dents, bent shafts and moisture damage; check shaft protection, component segregation and batch identification against the inspection brief.

What goes wrong

A drum can look correct yet have a different shaft, pulley interface or bearing arrangement. Model names alone can conceal production changes. Compare the original assembly with the proposed replacement and approve an installed sample before authorising production.

Burrs snag laundry, damaged seal surfaces leak and poor alignment produces rubbing or vibration. Packing can dent the rim or bend an exposed shaft. Specify acceptance checks for these failure modes and retain the approved sample for comparison with delivered stock.

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.