Sourcing warehouse order picking trucks from China
Warehouse order picking trucks from China carry 4% ordinary UK duty across the selected lines. Check the attached boom-lift trade remedy against the actual model. New trucks placed on the Great Britain market need UKCA or CE marking, a declaration of conformity and English instructions. Cambridge China Bridge sources warehouse order picking trucks.
Duty and classification for order picking trucks
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, heading 8427 covers fork-lift trucks and other works trucks fitted with lifting or handling equipment. The selected order-picker lines all carry 4% ordinary duty for goods from China, with no suspensions recorded. Choose the line from the propulsion system, lifting height and actual design.
The selected lines also show provisional anti-dumping duty of 71.74% residual and anti-dumping or countervailing registration. The reference guide identifies the measure as the boom-lift case: goods outside its description use an exclusion code at 0%. Have your broker confirm scope and the declaration treatment for the exact order picker. Do not assume either that the residual applies or that the model is excluded.
The tariff attaches waste import and export controls, and fluorinated greenhouse gas import controls to the selected self-propelled lines. Confirm their applicability with your broker, particularly for used trucks or refrigerated cabs. For notified waste entering England from China, the exporter starts the consent process in China; shipment requires the relevant authorities' consent. Use commodity classification and the wider electric pallet stacker guide when distinguishing related trucks.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electric order picking trucks, lifting height at least 1 m, other | 8427 10 10 90 | 4% | 71.74% residual anti-dumping (provisional) |
| Electric order picking trucks, other lifting heights | 8427 10 90 00 | 4% | 71.74% residual anti-dumping (provisional) |
| Non-electric self-propelled order picking trucks, lifting height at least 1 m, other | 8427 20 19 90 | 4% | 71.74% residual anti-dumping (provisional) |
| Non-self-propelled picking trucks with lifting equipment, other | 8427 90 00 80 | 4% | 71.74% residual anti-dumping (provisional) |
Specify the picking task and operator platform
State whether the operator stays at floor level or rises with the platform. Specify platform height, residual load capacity at the intended height, load centre, pallet dimensions, fork length, aisle width, turning space and warehouse floor conditions. Include the charger supply, battery chemistry, charging location and access for battery replacement.
New machinery placed on the Great Britain market must have UKCA or CE marking, a declaration of conformity and English instructions. Ask for documents matching the truck, battery and supplied configuration. For raised operator platforms, ask the supplier to explain the applicable conformity assessment route. Industrial lift trucks require thorough examination; servicing alone does not satisfy that requirement.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 1 low-level electric warehouse order picking truck under 8427 10 90 00, invoiced at £10,000 free on board, with £1,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £11,000. Duty at 4% is £440. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £11,440, so it is £2,288. Import taxes total £2,728; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £440 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Platform: check gates, guardrails, standing space, emergency lowering and access to controls against the agreed design.
Movement: check braking, steering, operator-presence controls and travel behaviour with the platform raised, using the supplier's approved test procedure.
Lift and load: check mast alignment, chains, rollers, forks and hydraulic leaks; record lifting and holding performance with an agreed test load.
Battery and documents: check charger compatibility, connectors, battery restraint and serial numbers. Match the declaration, capacity plate and English manual to each delivered truck. Arrange quality inspection before shipment and repeat arrival checks.
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What goes wrong
A truck can fit the pallet but fail the picking task: its turning envelope is too wide, the platform cannot reach the intended shelves, or capacity at height is lower than the headline rating. Check the warehouse layout and load chart before approving the configuration.
Other failure points include damaged mast rollers after transport, intermittent platform-gate switches, incompatible chargers and manuals for a different model. Record arrival defects before commissioning. A factory inspection or routine service is not a statutory 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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on order picking trucks from China?
The selected lines carry 4% ordinary duty. They also show a provisional 71.74% residual boom-lift measure; your broker must confirm whether the model is in scope or qualifies for exclusion.
Can I sell a CE-marked order picker in Great Britain?
New machinery can use CE or UKCA marking. It must also come with a declaration of conformity and English instructions. Check that the documents cover the supplied model and configuration.
Does a factory inspection replace thorough examination?
No. HSE distinguishes thorough examination of industrial lift trucks from regular inspections and scheduled servicing. Arrange the examination separately from your purchase inspection.
What should I send a Chinese order-picker factory?
Send the aisle layout, shelf access needs, pallet dimensions, load weights, required platform height, floor conditions and charging arrangements. Specify whether the operator rises with the platform.