Sourcing tower cranes from China

Tower crane duty and classification

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, tower cranes under 8426 20 00 00 carry 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control for this line.

Heading 8426 covers cranes and related lifting machinery. The table shows tower crane configurations sharing the same tariff line, rather than separate commodity codes. For the wider heading, see our overhead bridge crane guide.

Confirm the commodity code against the complete crane specification and shipment contents. Separately supplied crane parts fall under heading 8431, as explained in the published crane guide. Check separate consignments rather than assuming the complete crane code applies.

Specify the jib, mast and installation

State the crane configuration, jib length, lifting height and required capacity at each working radius. Obtain the load chart for the actual mast, jib and counterweight arrangement. Specify hoisting speeds, controls, site power supply, foundation interface and any building ties. Ask for working and out-of-service wind instructions for that configuration.

A crane placed on the UK market must meet the machinery supply requirements; confirm the applicable declaration of conformity, marking and English-instruction requirements with HSE. Agree who supplies the installation drawings, erection instructions and maintenance information. Arrange UK installation and a competent examiner before shipping; confirm the thorough-examination requirements for installation-dependent lifting equipment with HSE or the examiner before first use.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: a compact self-erecting tower crane under 8426 20 00 00, invoiced at £48,000 free on board, with £5,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £53,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £53,000, so it is £10,600. 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

Structure: check mast and jib identification against the drawings, inspect welds and coating damage, and confirm that pins, bolts and connection components match the agreed specification.

Controls: witness operation of brakes, emergency stops, travel limits and overload protection. Match the load chart and limiter settings to the crane configuration being delivered.

Documents: match the declaration, English manual, installation drawings and component list to the delivered crane. Check that the foundation and counterweight information is included.

Arrival: reconcile mast sections, jib sections, counterweights and connection kits with the packing list. Record transport damage and missing components before arranging erection. See our quality inspection guide.

What goes wrong

A headline lifting capacity can conceal inadequate capacity at the required radius. Mixed mast sections, missing connection kits or drawings for a different configuration can delay erection. A load chart that does not match the supplied jib and counterweights prevents a meaningful acceptance check.

Factory testing does not settle whether the installed crane is safe to use. Arrange examination of the installed configuration and agree any testing with the competent examiner. HSE says testing deemed necessary may not be needed at every thorough examination.

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.