Sourcing steel chain from China
Chain of iron or steel from China, including roller chain, welded and stud-link chain, snow chains and chain parts, pays 0% UK duty, with no anti-dumping duty. Chain sold for lifting is within the machinery supply rules and must be marked with its working load limit and supplied with a declaration of conformity. Cambridge China Bridge sources steel chain.
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Zero duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 25 September 2026, articulated link chain including roller chain, skid chain, stud-link chain, other welded link chain, other chain and chain parts of heading 7315 carried 0% duty on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure.
Chain of precious metal for jewellery, and chains that form part of a machine and are entered with it, are classified elsewhere; confirm the commodity code.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roller chain for cycles and motorcycles | 7315 11 10 00 | 0% | None |
| Other roller chain | 7315 11 90 00 | 0% | None |
| Other articulated link chain | 7315 12 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Skid and snow chain | 7315 20 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Stud-link chain | 7315 81 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Other welded link chain | 7315 82 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Chain parts | 7315 90 00 00 | 0% | None |
Lifting chain
Chains designed for lifting, as part of lifting machinery or as lifting accessories, are within the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008. Each length must be marked with its working load limit and the maker, and supplied with a declaration of conformity; ask for the proof load test certificate for each batch and check the UKCA or CE marking. Short link lifting chain is usually specified to the BS EN 818 series, and roller chain for drives to ISO 606.
An employer using the chain then has duties under the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998, including thorough examination, so buyers in construction and industry will ask for the certificates before they accept the goods.
Worked duty example
Take a hypothetical order of 12 tonnes of welded link chain, entered under 7315 82 00 00: £21,000 free on board plus £2,400 of freight and insurance gives a customs value of £23,400. Welded link chain carry no duty, so import VAT of 20% on £23,400, £4,680, is the only tax. A VAT-registered importer normally reclaims it, so the border adds no lasting cost. Step by step: UK import duty and VAT.
Inspection checklist
Lifting chain: short-link lifting chain checked against BS EN 818-2 for grade 8, every length proof-loaded at the manufacturing proof force the standard sets with the record matched to the batch, and sample lengths broken to confirm breaking force and total elongation at fracture.
Transmission chain: roller chain checked against ISO 606 for pitch, roller diameter and inner width, the measuring length checked under the specified load over a set number of links, sample lengths tensile-tested against the minimum breaking strength, and pin and bush hardness checked on sectioned links.
Marking and documents: grade marks at the intervals the standard requires, a certificate of test and examination for each lifting chain length, a declaration of conformity for lifting accessories under the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008, and chain oiled and packed in sealed bags or drums for sea freight.
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What goes wrong
Chain fails at the weld and in the heat treatment. Poorly welded links crack at the weld zone under load, chain that is not properly quenched and tempered stretches or snaps well below its rated load, and link dimensions drift so the chain will not run on its sprocket or pocket wheel. High-grade alloy lifting chain that has been electroplated or galvanised without the maker's approval can suffer hydrogen embrittlement and fail without warning.
Ask for the proof load and breaking load test reports and the material certificate for each batch, witness or repeat a break test on samples, measure pitch and link dimensions over a length, check welds and markings, and confirm the surface finish is approved for the chain's grade. Keep chain dry and oiled in transit so it does not arrive rusted.
Cambridge China Bridge sources roller chain, welded link chain and lifting chain, with grades, test certificates and markings agreed before production. Read how we source industrial components.
Related guides: Sourcing ball and roller bearings from China. For retaining rings, see sourcing steel retaining rings from China. For conveyor applications, see our conveyor attachment chain sourcing guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on steel chain from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 25 September 2026, chain and chain parts of heading 7315 carried 0% duty from China.
What must lifting chain come with?
A working load limit marking, the maker's details, a declaration of conformity and, in practice, a proof load test certificate.
Which standards cover chain?
Short link lifting chain is usually specified to the BS EN 818 series, and drive roller chain to ISO 606.
Can grade 80 lifting chain be galvanised?
Only with the maker's approval, because plating can cause hydrogen embrittlement in high-grade chain.