Sourcing cement storage silos from China

Duty on unequipped cement silo shells

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 7309 covers iron or steel containers exceeding 300 litres, whether lined or heat-insulated, without mechanical or thermal equipment. Unequipped cement storage silos fall within the solids line, 7309 00 90 00. The table shows alternative silo specifications under that same commodity line.

The supplied tariff record gives 0% duty for goods from China on this solids line, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension, steel measure or attached import control. Import VAT is normally 20%. Confirm with HMRC or your customs broker whether heading 7309 is covered by the UK carbon border adjustment mechanism and when it applies; see the UK carbon border guide.

Confirm the actual shipment against the commodity code guide, particularly if conveying, agitation or heating equipment is included. Describe the shell and supplied accessories separately. See the steel storage tanks and vats guide for the wider heading.

Specify the silo shell and site interfaces

State usable storage volume and the cement bulk density used to calculate the stored load. Agree steel grade, plate thickness, corrosion protection, cone geometry, outlet position and access openings. Ask for drawings and structural calculations covering the intended site conditions, support legs, baseplates, anchors and foundation reactions. Choose welded delivery or bolted site assembly before approving the packing plan.

Define the interfaces for filling pipework, vent filtration, pressure relief and level monitoring, and identify who supplies and commissions each item. An unequipped shell needs an operating-system design before filling. Confirm with HSE or the relevant product-safety authority whether the pressure equipment rules apply to the intended design, taking account of maximum allowable pressure and any exclusions.

If the equipment falls within the pressure rules, confirm with the relevant product-safety authority which conformity assessment, CE or UKCA marking, declaration or sound engineering practice requirements apply. Agree the applicable route before ordering. Ask for emissions information for the future carbon border mechanism alongside the material certificates.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: four unequipped steel cement storage silos, each of 20,000 litres under 7309 00 90 00, invoiced at £60,000 free on board, with £8,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £68,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £68,000, so it is £13,600. 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

Materials and welds: match plate certificates to the agreed grade, measure thickness and inspect shell, cone and support welds against the agreed acceptance criteria. Record the locations and results of any agreed weld testing.

Assembly fit: check panel identification, flange flatness, bolt holes, gaskets and supplied fasteners. Trial-fit representative joints and verify filling, vent and outlet interfaces against the approved drawings.

Supports and transport: inspect legs, bracing, baseplates and lifting points. Check packing restraints before shipment, then photograph dents, distorted flanges, damaged coatings and missing parts on arrival.

Site handover: reconcile the parts list and assembly instructions with the delivered goods. Arrange the site inspection and commissioning plan. Work equipment requiring inspection must not be used until you know that inspection has taken place.

What goes wrong

A capacity stated only by cement mass can hide a different bulk-density assumption or insufficient usable volume. Misaligned bolt holes, distorted flanges and incomplete gasket sets delay assembly and create leak paths. Thin plate, poor cone welds and damaged coatings are harder to remedy after erection, so agree measurable acceptance criteria before production.

Another failure is treating the shell order as a complete working silo. Unresolved vent, relief, filling and support interfaces leave the buyer with incompatible site equipment. Put supply boundaries and drawing approval in the order, and use factory verification to check the fabricator's welding, trial assembly and inspection capability.

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.