Sourcing aluminium battery foil from China
Aluminium battery current-collector foil commonly carries 6% UK duty from China; qualifying suspended specifications can carry 0%. Classify the actual gauge, backing and processing, rather than the battery-use description alone. Cambridge China Bridge sources aluminium battery current-collector foil.
Duty on battery current-collector foil
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 18 October 2026, heading 7607 covers aluminium foil no thicker than 0.2 mm, excluding any backing. The table lists possible classifications for current-collector material, rather than dedicated battery-foil codes. Thickness, roll weight, width, backing and processing decide which description fits.
The selected lines carry 6% duty from China, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control. Elsewhere in the heading, qualifying converter foil has a 0% suspension. A separate suspension covers a specifically described lithium-and-manganese laminate bonded to aluminium for battery cathodes. Neither is a blanket battery-foil exemption. Relevant small-roll lines carry 7.50% plus residual anti-dumping duty of 35.60%.
Give your customs broker the mill specification and processing description before confirming the commodity code. See the aluminium blister packaging foil guide for the wider heading. Confirm with HMRC or your customs broker whether the supplied aluminium foil falls within UK carbon border adjustment coverage and when any obligations apply; ask the mill for emissions data alongside material certificates.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unbacked rolled foil for non-household use, subject to gauge and width conditions | 7607 11 19 60 | 6% | None |
| Other unbacked rolled foil below 0.021 mm, outside the preceding descriptions | 7607 11 19 96 | 6% | None |
| Other worked unbacked foil below 0.021 mm, outside the preceding descriptions | 7607 19 10 90 | 6% | None |
| Other rolled foil coils, 0.03 mm to below 0.2 mm, without internal material layers | 7607 11 90 91 | 6% | None |
Specify the collector surface and reel
Specify alloy composition, temper, thickness tolerance, slit width, flatness, tensile properties and elongation. Define the core, winding direction, reel dimensions, permitted splices and protective packing. For coated foil, identify the coating composition, coated faces, coating uniformity and adhesion test. Approve a sample through your own coating, drying, slitting and winding process before accepting production material.
UK REACH generally applies to substances on their own, in mixtures and in articles. Obtain the alloy and any coating composition, then assess the applicable obligations for the supplied material. Keep that assessment separate from the factory's claim that the foil is suitable for batteries.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative pilot order of unbacked current-collector foil reels meeting this line's conditions under 7607 11 19 60, invoiced at £3,000 free on board, with £200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £3,200. Duty at 6% is £192. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £3,392, so it is £678.40. Import taxes total £870.40; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £192 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Gauge and width: measure across the web and along sampled material against the agreed tolerances; compare reel net weight with the packing list.
Surface and edges: inspect for oil, particles, scratches, pinholes, burrs and edge cracks; check any coating against the approved sample and test method.
Unwinding: check wrinkles, telescoping, blocked layers, tension consistency and declared splices during a trial unwind.
Traceability and packing: match reel labels to mill and coating batch records; inspect cores, moisture protection and handling damage during quality inspection.
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What goes wrong
Foil can meet the nominal gauge yet fail during electrode production. Residual oil can interfere with coating adhesion, burrs can damage adjacent material, and wrinkles or uneven winding can interrupt feeding. Agree measurable acceptance criteria and retain samples linked to each reel batch.
A supplier's description of battery-grade foil does not establish the tariff classification or entitlement to a suspension. Check the complete tariff description against the shipped material, particularly when a coating, laminate or smaller reel changes the product presented to customs.
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 aluminium battery foil from China?
The selected candidate lines carry 6%. Qualifying suspended specifications elsewhere in heading 7607 can carry 0%; relevant small-roll lines carry 7.50% plus 35.60% residual anti-dumping duty.
Does battery use automatically qualify foil for duty suspension?
No. The converter-foil and battery-cathode laminate suspensions cover specified products. Match the complete description and conditions with your customs broker.
What should I specify when ordering current-collector foil?
Specify alloy, temper, gauge tolerance, width, surface cleanliness, edge condition, core and winding. For coated foil, agree composition, uniformity and adhesion testing.
How do I check whether the foil works on my electrode line?
Trial the approved sample through your coating, drying, slitting and winding process. Record adhesion, handling and feeding results, then compare production batches with that sample.