Sourcing rotary lobe pumps from China

Zero duty on the relevant pump and parts lines

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 8413 covers pumps for liquids and liquid elevators. For rotary lobe liquid pumps, the relevant candidate is 8413 60 80 90, covering other rotary positive displacement pumps. The table repeats that line for different buying configurations; these are not separate tariff subdivisions.

The pump line and other pump parts line 8413 91 00 90 carry 0% duty on goods from China. The supplied tariff data records no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control for either line. Dedicated pump parts need their own classification check.

Confirm the commodity code using the pumping mechanism, liquid application and scope of supply. Do not classify a lobe pump as a gear or vane pump simply because it rotates. For another pump family within this heading, see progressive cavity pumps. For concrete pumps, see our concrete pump sourcing guide.

Specify the liquid, rotor clearances and cleaning

Give the factory the liquid composition, viscosity at operating temperature, solids content, required flow, differential pressure and suction conditions. Agree the rotor profile, operating speed, wetted materials, seal arrangement and connection drawings. Request performance evidence using a representative liquid rather than relying solely on a water test.

For cleaning-sensitive applications, agree how the casing drains, how the cover opens and how seals and rotor recesses are cleaned. Specify cleaning chemicals and temperatures, surface finish acceptance and replacement seal materials. Ask for a demonstration of dismantling and reassembly without damaging the sealing faces.

For complete new machinery placed on the Great Britain market, CE or UKCA marking, a declaration of conformity and English instructions are required. Match the documents to the supplied pump assembly, motor and controls. Arrange testing and certification checks before accepting the production configuration.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of 40 compact rotary lobe pumps under 8413 60 80 90, 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

Performance: check flow, differential pressure, speed and motor load against the agreed operating conditions; record the test liquid and temperature.

Rotors and seals: inspect rotor clearance, timing, rubbing marks and seal leakage during the agreed run test; confirm replacement parts fit the supplied model.

Cleaning and connections: inspect wetted surfaces, drainage, gasket seating and port dimensions; witness cover removal and reassembly.

Arrival: check transport damage, shaft rotation, baseplate alignment, guards and document identity before installation. Use the same acceptance sheet for quality inspection before dispatch.

What goes wrong

A water demonstration can conceal poor performance with a viscous liquid. Unsuitable speed or suction conditions can cause noise and an unstable flow. Incorrect rotor timing or clearances can leave rubbing marks; incompatible seals can swell or leak. Agree a representative test and record the pump configuration.

A clean-looking casing can still retain product around seals and recesses. Misaligned pipework can load the connections, while transit movement can disturb the drive alignment. Check cleaning access and alignment, and retain the approved drawings, test records and spare-part descriptions.

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.