Sourcing water pumps and circulators from China
Centrifugal, submersible and other pumps for liquids, and glandless heating circulators, pay 0% UK duty from China, with no anti-dumping duty. Glandless circulators must meet an energy efficiency index of no more than 0.23 under the retained Regulation 641/2009, so the test data comes with the order. Cambridge China Bridge sources pumps for installers, OEMs and water treatment.
Water pumps, submersible pumps and heating circulators pay 0% UK duty from China. Circulators must meet an energy efficiency index of 0.23 or less.
Zero duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 25 September 2026, single-stage and multi-stage submersible pumps, glandless impeller pumps for heating systems and warm water, radial flow and other centrifugal pumps, and other pumps for liquids carried 0% duty on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure.
Pumps are dense and ship well by sea; confirm the commodity code by pump type and outlet diameter, since the tariff splits centrifugal pumps that way.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Submersible pumps, single-stage | 8413 70 21 00 | 0% | None |
| Submersible pumps, multi-stage | 8413 70 29 00 | 0% | None |
| Glandless impeller pumps for heating and warm water (circulators) | 8413 70 30 00 | 0% | None |
| Radial flow single-stage monobloc pumps, other | 8413 70 51 90 | 0% | None |
| Other pumps for liquids | 8413 81 00 90 | 0% | None |
Circulator efficiency
Great Britain retained Regulation 641/2009 on glandless standalone circulators and circulators integrated in products. Annex I set an energy efficiency index of no more than 0.27 for standalone circulators from 1 January 2013, and of no more than 0.23 for standalone and integrated circulators from 1 August 2015. Ask the factory for the EEI test result for each model and check the value on the nameplate.
Clean water pumps and pumps for other liquids have their own requirements and standards, so name the liquid, temperature and duty point in the product specification and ask which rules the factory has tested against.
| Circulator | EEI limit | From |
|---|---|---|
| Glandless standalone circulators | Not more than 0.27 | 1 January 2013 |
| Glandless standalone and integrated circulators | Not more than 0.23 | 1 August 2015 |
Duty point and materials
A pump is bought on its curve: the flow at a given head. Give the factory the duty point and the liquid, and ask for the performance curve and a test at that point on production pumps. Materials follow the liquid: cast iron for heating water, stainless steel for clean or aggressive water, and seals rated for the temperature.
Pumps that carry drinking water are water fittings, so the Water Fittings Regulations and the approval evidence installers ask for apply.
Testing and spares
Ask for a run test and a pressure test on every pump, and check noise, leakage and the motor at inspection. Seals, impellers and capacitors are the parts that fail, so order them with the first shipment.
Cambridge China Bridge sources water pumps, submersible pumps and heating circulators for installers, OEMs and water treatment, with the efficiency data and performance tests checked before shipment. See how our sourcing service works.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on water pumps from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 25 September 2026, submersible, centrifugal and other pumps for liquids, and heating circulators, carried 0% duty from China, with no anti-dumping duty.
What efficiency must a heating circulator meet?
An energy efficiency index of no more than 0.23 from 1 August 2015 for standalone and integrated glandless circulators, under Annex I of the retained Regulation 641/2009.
How should I specify a pump?
Give the duty point, the liquid and its temperature, and ask for the performance curve and a test at that point on production pumps.
Do drinking water pumps need approval?
They are water fittings, so the Water Fittings Regulations and the approval evidence installers ask for apply.