Sourcing stone engraving machines from China
Mechanical stone engraving machines from China under heading 8464 carry a flat 2% UK duty, with no anti-dumping duty in the supplied tariff record. New machinery for Great Britain must have UKCA or CE marking, a declaration of conformity and English instructions. Cambridge China Bridge sources stone engraving machines.
Stone engraving machines: 2% duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 8464 covers machine tools for working stone and similar mineral materials, ceramics and concrete, and for cold working glass. This guide concerns mechanical stone engraving routers for lettering and relief work. The table shows different configurations sharing the other-machines line, rather than separate tariff categories.
Every line in the supplied heading record carries 2% duty for goods from China. It records no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspensions or attached import controls. Mechanical stone routers fall within the other-machines category, 8464 90 00 00, subject to confirmation against the actual machine.
Give your broker the operating method, tooling and principal function to confirm the commodity code. A machine principally sawing or polishing needs separate classification consideration. See the wider stone and tile cutting machines guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stone engraving routers with a flat worktable | 8464 90 00 00 | 2% | None |
Specify the stone, lettering and controller
Specify the stone types, maximum workpiece dimensions and weight, engraving depth, smallest lettering and required surface finish. Agree the usable table area, clamping method, spindle specification, tool holders and tool-changing arrangement. Ask the factory to engrave your artwork on your intended stone, then retain the sample and controller settings as acceptance references.
Agree the controller language, compatible design files, software licence, backup procedure and replacement spindle and drive components. Specify water delivery, slurry collection and protection of electrical cabinets from spray. Stone machining can release respirable crystalline silica; confirm with HSE how the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 apply to exposure control for your intended work.
New machinery placed on the Great Britain market must be UKCA or CE marked, accompanied by a declaration of conformity and supplied with English instructions. Check these against the actual model before shipment, alongside the guards and emergency stops.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: two stone engraving machines under 8464 90 00 00, invoiced at £58,000 free on board, with £4,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £62,200. Duty at 2% is £1,244. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £63,444, so it is £12,688.80. Import taxes total £13,932.80; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,244 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Engraving: run the agreed lettering and relief files on representative stone; check depth consistency, letter edges, chipped corners and the finish against the approved sample.
Movement: check spindle runout, axis play, table alignment and clamping; repeat the same job after restarting the controller to check position recovery.
Safety and water: check guards, interlocks, emergency stops, earthing, water delivery and cabinet seals; match the conformity marking, declaration and English manual to the machine.
Arrival: inspect the frame, rails and spindle for transit damage, check accessories against the packing list and repeat the acceptance engraving after installation. Plan these checks through quality inspection.
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What goes wrong
A demonstration on soft stone can hide poor results on the buyer's intended granite. Axis play leaves uneven lettering, weak clamping allows movement and unsuitable tooling chips edges. Require a witnessed engraving using the agreed material and artwork, with measurements and close photographs of the finished work.
Water entering electrical cabinets, untranslated controller menus and missing software backups can prevent useful operation even when the frame arrives intact. Agree the supplied software, recovery files, wiring diagrams and spare-component identifiers before ordering. Use factory verification to check that the supplier can demonstrate the machine and support its controller.
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 stone engraving machines from China?
The supplied tariff record shows 2% for 8464 90 00 00, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty. Confirm that the machine's principal function fits this line.
Do stone engraving machines need CE or UKCA marking?
New machinery placed on the Great Britain market must have UKCA or CE marking, a declaration of conformity and English instructions.
What should I ask the factory to engrave?
Your own lettering and relief artwork on the stone you intend to process. Agree the depth and finish, retain the sample and record the tooling and controller settings.
What should I check when the machine arrives?
Inspect the rails, spindle, frame and electrical cabinet for damage, check supplied tools and software, then repeat the agreed engraving test after installation.