Sourcing thermic lance cutters from China

2% duty on equipment within heading 8468

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, every supplied line of heading 8468 carries 2% duty for goods from China. The snapshot lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duties, suspensions or attached import controls. This heading covers non-electric soldering, brazing and welding apparatus, whether or not capable of cutting, and gas-operated surface tempering equipment.

Treat the table as classification options, rather than confirmation that every lance set belongs in this heading. Give your broker the operating description, drawings and itemised contents to confirm the commodity code. Separate regulators and valves are usually classified under heading 8481. For the wider heading, see oxy-fuel scarfing machines; distinguish equipment from oxygen lancing tubes.

Specify the lance holder and oxygen supply

Specify lance diameter and length, holder clamping and sealing arrangement, oxygen inlet connection, operating pressure and flow, hose bore and length, shut-off arrangement and the intended cutting material. List exactly which holders, hoses, regulators, consumable lances and ignition accessories are supplied. Request drawings and a demonstration using your intended workpiece.

The pressure equipment rules regulate design, manufacture and conformity assessment above a maximum allowable pressure of 0.5 bar, subject to exclusions. The appropriate conformity assessment depends on the equipment's classification. Ask the supplier to explain the scope and classification of each pressure-bearing component and the supplied assembly, and provide the corresponding assessment evidence.

Specify materials and seals proven compatible with oxygen service. Ask for cleaning records, protected connections and English operating instructions describing the supplied configuration. Agree the inspection method before production through testing and certification.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 40 complete thermic lance cutting sets, illustrative only, assuming this classification under 8468 20 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 2% is £640. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £32,640, so it is £6,528. Import taxes total £7,168; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £640 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Holder fit: check the supplied lance fits the holder, the clamp grips securely and the seal matches the approved drawing.

Oxygen circuit: check component identities, pressure ratings, hose condition and connection threads against the specification; have a competent specialist verify sealing and shut-off performance.

Cleanliness: inspect protected connections for visible oil, grease, swarf and dirt; match cleaning records to the delivered batch.

Documents and trial: match component models to assessment evidence and instructions, then arrange a controlled cutting trial with competent operators. Use quality inspection to record acceptance findings.

What goes wrong

A holder can accept the lance yet fail to seal or grip it properly. Hose and regulator substitutions can change the available oxygen flow, connection fit or material compatibility. Check the delivered components against the approved sample and drawings before accepting substitutions.

An assembled kit can arrive with reports covering only an unrelated regulator or hose. Request evidence for the actual supplied configuration, and keep consumable lance tubes separate in the purchasing specification so that replacement dimensions and equipment classification are checked independently.

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.