Sourcing tyre-mounted gantry cranes from China

Duty and classification for tyre-mounted gantries

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 8426 covers cranes, mobile lifting frames and straddle carriers. Rubber-tyred container gantries should be assessed against 8426 12 00 00, mobile lifting frames on tyres and straddle carriers. The table shows drive-system variants within that same tariff line.

All lines in the supplied heading carry 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied facts record no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspensions or attached import controls. This tariff position does not replace machinery safety requirements.

Give your customs broker the general arrangement, lifting function, wheel layout and propulsion details to confirm the commodity code. For the wider heading and a different container-handling layout, see container straddle carriers.

Specify the yard, spreader and power system

Specify rated load at the spreader, whether its weight is included, container sizes, stacking clearance, span over container rows and the vehicle lane. Supply the yard layout, pavement condition, gradients and turning space. Agree wheel loads, tyre specification, steering modes, travel speeds and parking arrangements against the actual site.

Choose diesel-electric, cable-fed, battery-electric or hybrid power. Define the supply connection or charging arrangement, cable routing, duty cycle, operator visibility and access for maintenance. Specify spreader twistlock feedback, anti-sway behaviour, travel warnings, wind limits and storm securing. Agree factory demonstrations and the responsibilities for unloading, assembly and commissioning.

For supply in Great Britain, confirm the applicable machinery safety requirements, conformity marking, declaration of conformity and English instructions with the relevant authority. CE marking continues to be recognised alongside UKCA. Where safety depends on installation, confirm the thorough examination requirements before first use and for subsequent examinations with HSE.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: One used compact rubber-tyred container gantry crane for a container repair yard, illustrative under 8426 12 00 00, invoiced at £48,000 free on board, with £5,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £53,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £53,000, so it is £10,600. 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

Structure: compare girders, legs, joints and weld inspection records with the approved drawings. On arrival, check transport damage, corrosion, missing fasteners and alignment before assembly.

Spreader and hoist: witness the agreed lifting tests and check twistlock engagement feedback, ropes, reeving, brakes, overload protection and travel limits. Match the spreader to the containers the yard handles.

Travel and power: demonstrate steering, braking, parking and emergency stops. Inspect tyres and wheel assemblies; compare the delivered power equipment, cable system or charging connection with the site specification.

Documents and identity: match serial numbers to the declaration, English manual, drawings and test records. Check the packing list against delivered assemblies and retain photographs of arrival condition. Plan checks through our quality inspection guide.

What goes wrong

A crane can meet the lifting specification yet fail to fit the yard: insufficient stacking clearance, unsuitable wheel loads, obstructed turning space or a cable route across traffic. Spreader feedback can also indicate engagement incorrectly, while wind securing and safe maintenance access may be left out of the purchasing brief.

Documents sometimes cover a different model or omit the supplied spreader and control configuration. Factory testing also leaves site assembly to be checked separately. Freeze the drawings and component schedule before production, record demonstrations, and agree the UK assembly and examination arrangements before dispatch.

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.