Sourcing steel leaf springs from China

UK duty on steel leaf springs

Heading 7320 covers springs and leaves for springs of iron or steel. This guide covers steel leaf springs and separate leaves, including hot-worked laminated springs. The table separates complete laminated springs from their leaves under the same code. See the steel springs guide for the wider heading.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, all listed leaf-spring lines carried 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff records show no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, steel measure, suspension or attached import control for these lines.

Confirm the manufacturing process and whether the goods are laminated springs, other leaf springs or separate leaves before choosing a commodity code. Import VAT is normally 20%; use the UK import duty and VAT guide when preparing the landed-cost calculation.

Specify the spring pack and vehicle fit

For vehicle leaf springs, use the vehicle maker's drawing rather than a photograph or a model name alone. Specify the steel grade, leaf widths and thicknesses, leaf arrangement, unloaded camber, eye centres, eye and bush dimensions, centre-bolt position, clips and finish. Identify whether bushes, bolts and fittings are included.

Agree the load at stated deflections, permissible permanent set and fatigue test conditions. Specify heat treatment, shot peening and corrosion protection, with material certificates and test records tied to the production batch. Approve a sample for fit and performance before accepting bulk production.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative batch of hot-worked laminated steel leaf springs under 7320 10 11 90, invoiced at £18,000 free on board, with £1,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £19,500. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £19,500, so it is £3,900. 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

Geometry and fit: measure camber, eye centres, bush dimensions, centre-bolt position and leaf thickness against the approved drawing. Check pack alignment, clips and supplied fittings.

Load and set: test sample assemblies on a calibrated spring tester at the agreed deflections. Check the unloaded shape after testing and compare results across the batch.

Material and durability: match material certificates to batch identification. Review hardness, heat-treatment and shot-peening records, and check fatigue results against the agreed test conditions.

Finish and arrival condition: inspect leaf edges, eyes and contact surfaces for cracks, tool marks and corrosion. Check coating coverage, bush damage and pack movement caused by handling.

What goes wrong

A spring can look right yet have the wrong load response or mounting geometry. Incorrect camber, displaced centre bolts or unsuitable bushes create fitting problems. Poor heat treatment can leave permanent set, while surface damage and missed shot peening can contribute to fatigue cracking. Keep failed samples and their batch records for investigation.

For vehicle aftermarket safety defects, the official code of practice says producers or distributors must inform the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency of subsequent decisions on remedial action. Keep a record of complaints, affected batches and customers so decisions can be supported by evidence.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For repeat volumes, see container programmes.