Sourcing die sorting machines from China
Semiconductor die sorting machines within heading 8486 carry 0% UK duty from China across the supplied lines, with no listed trade remedies. Confirm the applicable machinery safety conformity assessment, declaration and CE or UKCA marking requirements for Great Britain with the relevant authority. Cambridge China Bridge sources semiconductor die sorting machines.
Duty and classification for die sorting machines
Heading 8486 covers semiconductor manufacturing equipment, machines specified in the chapter note, and parts and accessories. For a die sorter, describe whether it picks and transfers bare dies, sorts using a wafer map, or includes a manufacturing operation. The table shows candidate machine lines and separates parts from accessories under their shared code.
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, all supplied lines carried 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied facts list no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspensions or attached import controls. Import VAT is separate from customs duty.
Confirm the commodity code using the operating sequence, input and output carriers, and any integrated processing or testing function. For related equipment and wider heading context, see semiconductor die attach machines.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Semiconductor manufacturing machines, subject to the sorter's actual function | 8486 20 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Machines covered by chapter note 11(C), subject to function confirmation | 8486 40 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Parts for semiconductor die sorting machines | 8486 90 00 00 | 0% | None |
Specify the die, wafer map and output carrier
Specify die dimensions and thickness, wafer frame and tape, ejector arrangement, pickup tool, vision alignment and output trays or tape. Agree how the machine reads wafer maps, identifies rejected dies and preserves orientation and lot identity. Demonstrate throughput using your material, including carrier changes and recovery from pickup failures.
For Great Britain, confirm with the relevant authority whether these machines fall under the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008 and what conformity assessment, declaration and CE or UKCA marking requirements apply. The responsible person must compile the technical file and make it available on request. Ask for an English operating manual, site utility requirements, software licences, recipe backups and a spare-parts list before shipment.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: A refurbished die sorting machine for a small packaging workshop, illustrative only; classification subject to confirmation under 8486 40 00 00, 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
Die condition: inspect your samples for edge chips, cracks, surface marks and damage caused by the ejector or pickup tool.
Sorting integrity: compare wafer-map decisions with output pockets, checking rejects, missing dies, duplicates, orientation and lot separation.
Performance: run the agreed material and carriers, record stoppages and recovery, and repeat the acceptance run after installation.
Arrival and documents: inspect the crate and transport indicators, check stage and camera alignment, match the declaration to the machine, and test guards, interlocks and emergency stops. Agree the scope through quality inspection.
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What goes wrong
A demonstration on thicker dies can hide cracking on your thinner material. A wafer-map mismatch can send rejected dies into accepted trays, while unsuitable pickup tools can leave marks or lose dies. Agree acceptance criteria using your own dies, tape and carriers, and retain the test output and sorting records.
Transport can disturb camera or stage alignment. Refurbished machines can arrive with worn motion components, locked software or missing recipe backups. Record the supplied configuration, obtain access credentials and backups, and agree who restores calibration and repeats the site acceptance test.
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 die sorting machines from China?
The supplied heading 8486 lines carry 0% duty from China, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty. Confirm the machine's exact classification before shipment.
Which commodity code should I use for a die sorter?
Confirm the function before choosing between the listed machine lines. Provide the broker with the operating sequence, wafer-map function, carrier details and any integrated processing or testing.
Do die sorting machines need CE or UKCA marking?
For Great Britain, confirm the applicable machinery safety conformity assessment, declaration and CE or UKCA marking requirements with the relevant authority. Check that the documents identify the machine supplied.
How do I test a Chinese die sorting machine before buying?
Use your own dies, tape, wafer maps and output carriers. Check die damage, reject separation, orientation, traceability and sustained throughput, then repeat the agreed run after installation.