Sourcing aerospace aluminium plate from China
Aerospace aluminium plate from China carries 6% ordinary UK duty; qualifying aluminium-lithium lines have a 0% suspension. Confirm the supplied alloy, thickness and intended use before claiming relief. Aircraft VAT relief does not cover raw materials. Cambridge China Bridge sources aerospace aluminium plate.
UK duty on aerospace aluminium plate
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 7606 covers aluminium plates, sheets and strip exceeding 0.2 mm thick. This guide concerns plate supplied as material for aerospace manufacture. The table lists candidate rectangular, unbacked alloy lines. For the wider heading, see marine-grade aluminium plate.
The selected lines carry 6% ordinary duty for goods from China. The supplied record lists a 0% autonomous suspension for aluminium-lithium lines 7606 12 99 21 and 7606 12 99 25, excluding mixtures, preparations and products made up of different components containing these products. It records no suspension for the other selected lines and no anti-dumping duty, countervailing duty or attached import controls for these rows. Have your broker confirm suspension eligibility before using the reduced rate.
Give your broker the alloy composition, thickness, shape, coating, backing and intended use to confirm the commodity code. Duty suspensions do not remove VAT or trade remedy duties. Aircraft VAT relief does not cover raw materials; import VAT is normally 20%. See import duty and VAT. The UK's carbon border adjustment mechanism begins on 1 January 2027; confirm its application to your shipment with HMRC and request mill emissions information before ordering.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unbacked rectangular aluminium-lithium plate for aircraft parts, at least 6 mm | 7606 12 99 21 | 6% | None |
| Unbacked rectangular aluminium-lithium plate over 6 mm | 7606 12 99 25 | 6% | None |
| Other unbacked rectangular alloy plate for aircraft parts, at least 6 mm | 7606 12 99 85 | 6% | None |
| Other unbacked rectangular alloy plate over 6 mm | 7606 12 99 86 | 6% | None |
Alloy, temper and aerospace material traceability
Specify the alloy designation, temper, material specification and revision, plate dimensions, thickness tolerance, flatness and rolling direction. Identify aluminium-lithium material explicitly. Agree whether the plate is bare, clad or coated, and define machining allowance and permitted surface defects. Ask the aircraft customer or design team to approve the material specification before placing the order.
Request mill certificates linking chemical composition, mechanical test results and heat-treatment condition to the supplied heat and plate identifiers. Agree test direction, sample location and any ultrasonic examination with the customer's material specialist. Ask who rolled, heat-treated, tested and cut the plate during factory verification. Retain identification through cutting and trial production-lot material through the intended machining process.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 6 tonnes of unbacked rectangular aerospace aluminium alloy plate for aircraft-part manufacture; FOB and freight values are illustrative whole pounds. under 7606 12 99 85, invoiced at £36,000 free on board, with £4,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £40,000. Duty at 6% is £2,400. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £42,400, so it is £8,480. Import taxes total £10,880; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £2,400 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Identity: match plate markings, heat identifiers and mill certificates to the ordered alloy, temper and specification revision; investigate inconsistent or missing records.
Dimensions: measure thickness across sampled plates and check length, width, squareness, flatness and machining allowance against the agreed drawing.
Material evidence: check reported composition and mechanical results against the purchase specification; verify agreed test direction and ultrasonic examination records.
Surface and packing: inspect both faces and edges for dents, scratches, cracks, staining and burrs; check interleaving, dry wrapping and edge supports during quality inspection.
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What goes wrong
A general aerospace-grade description can hide the wrong temper, an unapproved specification revision or a change of mill. A certificate with no link to the delivered plate leaves material identity unresolved. Keep affected stock separate while discrepancies are investigated, and agree how markings will be transferred to cut pieces.
Plate can distort after machining even when its arrival dimensions appear acceptable. Trial the intended machining sequence and agree how residual-stress behaviour will be assessed. Poor packing can also cause wet-stack staining and crushed edges. Separately, an aircraft-use description does not settle customs relief: check the exact line and suspension conditions rather than assuming all aerospace plate enters duty free.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on aerospace aluminium plate from China?
The selected lines carry 6% ordinary duty. The record lists 0% suspensions on qualifying aluminium-lithium lines 7606 12 99 21 and 7606 12 99 25, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty recorded.
Is aerospace aluminium plate exempt from import VAT?
HMRC says aircraft VAT relief does not cover raw materials. Aerospace plate supplied as raw material normally attracts 20% import VAT, even where a customs duty suspension applies.
What documents should I request from the Chinese mill?
Request plate-linked mill certificates, composition and mechanical results, heat-treatment condition, specification revision and agreed examination records. Match these to the heat and plate identifiers.
How do I check aerospace plate before machining?
Confirm material identity, dimensions, flatness and surface condition. Review the agreed test records and trial production-lot material through your machining sequence before accepting the remaining stock.