Sourcing server CPU heat sinks from China
Server CPU heat sinks from China classified as other computer parts under heading 8473 carry 0% UK duty, with no anti-dumping duty. Confirm the code for the actual product, especially when a fan is included, and approve fit and cooling in the target server. Cambridge China Bridge sources server CPU heat sinks.
Zero duty for qualifying server heat sinks
Heading 8473 covers parts and accessories suitable solely or principally for the specified calculating, computing and office machines. For passive heat sinks designed principally for servers, 8473 30 80 00 is the relevant candidate line for other computer parts. The table shows product variants sharing that line, rather than separate tariff classifications. See the wider computer parts guide.
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, all supplied lines carried 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied data lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspensions. No import controls are attached to the candidate server-parts line. Waste import and export controls appear on the office-machine parts lines 8473 40 10 00 and 8473 40 80 00.
For waste imports under notification controls, the exporter must apply for consent to the competent authority in the dispatch country. Have your customs broker confirm the procedure for any China-origin scrap. Confirm the commodity code using drawings, intended server use and the complete contents of the shipment; assess fan-equipped assemblies separately. Budget for 20% import VAT using the duty and VAT guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passive aluminium fin heat sinks designed for servers | 8473 30 80 00 | 0% | None |
Socket mounting and cooling inside the server
Specify the server model, motherboard revision, processor socket, mounting-hole positions, fixing threads and retention hardware. Provide a drawing showing the base contact area, overall envelope and clearance beneath the chassis cover. Specify aluminium or copper construction, heat-pipe layout, fin direction, surface finish and whether thermal interface material is included.
Approve a sample in the target server with its normal cover, air duct and chassis fans fitted. Agree the processor workload, inlet conditions, airflow and acceptable temperature behaviour before testing. A heat sink that fits mechanically can still obstruct airflow or allow the processor to throttle. Keep the approved drawing and sample for comparison with production.
Official Great Britain guidance states that component parts sold on a business-to-business basis are outside the hazardous-substance restriction regulations' scope. Confirm whether the supply is a component transaction or a finished replacement product before relying on that distinction. Ask for material and coating information to support the customer's assessment of the finished equipment.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 20 passive server CPU heat sinks; illustrative order and values under 8473 30 80 00, invoiced at £1,500 free on board, with £150 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £1,650. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £1,650, so it is £330. 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
Fit: compare mounting positions, threads, spring fixings and installed height with the approved drawing; trial-fit sampled units without forcing the screws.
Contact surface: check base flatness, burrs, scratches, plating condition and the position of any supplied thermal pad; check that protective film can be removed cleanly.
Cooling: compare fin spacing, airflow direction, heat-pipe joints and construction with the approved sample; repeat the agreed workload test in the target chassis.
Condition and packing: look for old paste, tool marks, corrosion and bent fins; check that separators protect the bases and prevent units striking each other. Include these checks in the inspection brief.
Working out your own order? Send us the product on WhatsApp and we reply the same working day: WhatsApp us
What goes wrong
A supplier may match the socket name but supply the wrong mounting pattern, retention hardware or chassis height. Substituted materials, altered fin spacing or poor heat-pipe joints can change cooling performance. Require approval before changes and compare production samples with the agreed drawing and thermal test.
Used heat sinks can arrive cleaned and sold as new, while inadequate packing bends fins or damages the contact face. State the required condition, retain photographs of the approved sample and agree how mismatched or damaged units will be handled.
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 server CPU heat sinks from China?
The supplied tariff data gives 0% duty for 8473 30 80 00, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty. Confirm that the actual heat sink belongs in that line; import VAT is separate.
Is the processor socket name enough to order a heat sink?
No. Check the server model, motherboard revision, mounting pattern, retention hardware, chassis clearance and airflow direction. Trial-fit a sample in the target server.
How do I verify a server heat sink's cooling performance?
Test it in the target chassis with its cover, duct and fans fitted. Use agreed workload and inlet conditions, record temperature behaviour and check for processor throttling.
Can a fan-equipped cooler use the same commodity code?
Do not assume so. Give your customs broker the complete assembly specification, including the fan and any electronics, and confirm classification before shipment.