Buy direct from Chinese factories, delivered to the UK, with a team next door to them.
An Irish-run team of 53 on the ground in Shenzhen and Zhengzhou, buying factory-direct for UK retailers, repair shops and brands. We check UK rules before you pay and inspect every order before it ships.
Three ways we help UK importers buy direct.
Phones & Parts
Used iPhones, Android phones, screens and batteries for UK phone shops, bought in Huaqiangbei and tested in Shenzhen before they ship.
See phones & parts for the UK →
Shenzhen Electronics
Portable power stations, home batteries, smart home, CCTV and wearables direct from Shenzhen factories, certified for the UK and inspected before shipping.
See shenzhen electronics for the UK →
Private Label
Your product, your brand, your packaging, made by vetted factories in Shenzhen and Dongguan and delivered to the UK. Samples, moulds, QC and shipping managed.
See private label for the UK →The essentials, in plain English.
Update, 31 December 2026: The 2% UK duty measure on lithium-ion batteries (commodity 8507 60 00 90) is set to end on 31 December 2026, and the 2027 rate has not been published yet. We confirm the current rate in your quote. Source
Import VAT: 20%, postponable
Import VAT is charged at the standard 20% on most goods. Any UK VAT-registered business can use postponed VAT accounting to declare and reclaim it on the same VAT return.
SourceDuty: 0% on phones and parts
On the UK Global Tariff, smartphones (8517 13), smartwatches (8517 62), phone parts (8517 79) and LCD display modules (8524 11) are 0%. Lithium-ion batteries (8507 60 00 90) are 2%, a measure currently set to end on 31 December 2026.
SourceEORI number
You need a GB EORI number to import into Great Britain, and a VAT registration to use postponed VAT accounting.
SourceLow-value consignments (£135)
Duty relief on consignments of £135 or less still applies but is being removed, by October 2028 at the latest. For B2B consignments under £135 the buyer accounts for VAT under the reverse charge.
SourceExpress couriers (DHL, FedEx, UPS) deliver door to door from Shenzhen to the UK. It is the fastest route for phones, parts and samples, and we confirm the transit time with the carrier in your quote.
Larger orders go by sea from Yantian or Shekou to Felixstowe, Southampton or London Gateway. Sailing times depend on the carrier and the season, so we include the forwarder's current schedule with your price. Rail via the China–Europe routes is an option for some goods.
Irish-run. On the ground in China. Answerable to you.
- Noel Murphy has lived and worked in China since 2008.
- 53 people on the ground: 47 in Shenzhen, 6 in Zhengzhou.
- Our own full-time buyer in the Huaqiangbei electronics market.
- Every order inspected before it ships. Problems fixed in China, not after they land in the UK.
- Offices in Shenzhen and Zhengzhou, where the team works and your goods are checked.
Sourcing from China for the UK, answered.
Is there import duty on phones from China to the UK?
Smartphones, smartwatches, phone parts and display modules are 0% on the UK Global Tariff. Lithium-ion batteries are 2%. Import VAT of 20% applies, and VAT-registered businesses can postpone it to their VAT return.
Is CE marking still accepted in the UK?
Yes. Since 1 October 2024 Great Britain accepts CE marking indefinitely for 21 product regulations, including radio equipment, low voltage and EMC, alongside UKCA. Northern Ireland follows EU rules.