Sourcing aluminium bronze foil from China

Aluminium bronze foil: 0% UK duty

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, heading 7410 covers copper foil, including copper-alloy foil, of thickness not exceeding 0.15 mm excluding backing. Aluminium bronze foil belongs within the copper-alloy branches: 7410 12 00 00 for unbacked foil and 7410 22 00 00 for backed foil.

Both relevant codes carry 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff records list no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control for these codes. The table shows roll and cut-sheet forms sharing the same codes. For related copper-alloy foil coverage, see the phosphor bronze foil guide.

Your import declaration must include the commodity code. Give your customs broker the alloy composition, metal thickness and backing description, and confirm the commodity code. Thicker copper-alloy sheet falls under heading 7409. See the duty and VAT guide when budgeting the shipment.

Specify the aluminium bronze alloy and temper

Write the alloy designation and agreed composition into the order, including aluminium content and any specified iron or nickel content. Specify temper, thickness tolerance, width, flatness, slit-edge condition and surface finish. For rolls, agree coil dimensions and winding direction. For backed foil, identify the backing and adhesive and agree a peel test against the intended process.

Ask for batch-linked composition and mechanical test records, then trial a sample in your cutting or forming process. Obtain substance information for the alloy, surface treatment and backing. Where foil is supplied as an article containing a UK REACH Candidate List substance above 0.1% by weight, business recipients must receive information allowing safe use, including the substance name.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative trial batch of slit aluminium bronze foil rolls under 7410 12 00 00, invoiced at £2,200 free on board, with £100 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £2,300. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £2,300, so it is £460. With no duty, the only import tax is the VAT, which a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Material: match batch labels to the mill certificate and ordered alloy; independently check composition and hardness where performance is critical.

Dimensions: measure metal thickness across the width, excluding backing; check slit width, flatness, camber and edge burrs against the order.

Surface and backing: inspect for pinholes, scratches, wrinkles and oxidation; check backed material for lifting and agreed peel performance.

Packing: check moisture-resistant wrapping, desiccant, supported roll cores and protected sheet edges; record findings using the inspection guide.

What goes wrong

An order described only as bronze foil leaves alloy and temper open to substitution. Wrong composition or hardness can change forming behaviour, while thin spots and slit-edge burrs can spoil cut parts. Compare production material with the approved sample and retain batch records.

Tight winding, unsupported cores and damp packing can leave foil creased, dented or tarnished. Backed foil can lift during processing if the adhesive or surface preparation differs from the sample. Agree packing and acceptance checks before dispatch, and investigate discrepancies before feeding the batch into production.

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.