Sourcing aluminium cable foil from China
Aluminium cable shielding foil from China carries standard UK duty of 6% to 10%, with conditional 0% relief for specified converter foil. Certain small bare rolls also carry anti-dumping duty. Classify the foil by backing, metal thickness and roll weight. Cambridge China Bridge sources aluminium cable shielding foil.
Duty on bare and laminated shielding foil
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 7607 covers aluminium foil no thicker than 0.2 mm, excluding any backing. This guide concerns foil supplied for cable shielding, including plastic-backed laminates. The supplied tariff snapshot lists no attached import controls on the selected lines.
Thin backed foil under 7607 20 10 00 carries 10% duty from China. Converter foil and the other selected industrial bare-foil lines carry 6%. Specified converter foil has a conditional 0% suspension; check the complete footnote before claiming it. Small bare rolls under 7607 11 11 19 carry 7.50% plus residual anti-dumping duty of 35.60%; named exporters may have their own rates. The other selected lines show no trade remedies.
Confirm the commodity code using the layer construction, aluminium thickness, processing and roll weight. Our battery current collector foil guide covers another product family within this heading. Confirm with HMRC or your customs broker whether the foil is within the aluminium scope of UK CBAM from 1 January 2027; review the UK CBAM guide and request supplier emissions information. For import VAT and the calculation method, see UK import duty and VAT.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Backed foil, aluminium thickness below 0.021 mm | 7607 20 10 00 | 10% | None |
| Unbacked aluminium converter foil | 7607 11 19 91 | 6% | None |
| Unbacked rolled foil for listed non-household uses | 7607 11 19 60 | 6% | None |
| Other unbacked further-worked foil below 0.021 mm | 7607 19 10 90 | 6% | None |
| Unbacked rolled foil, 0.007 to below 0.021 mm, rolls up to 10 kg | 7607 11 11 19 | 7.5% | 35.60% residual anti-dumping |
Specify the laminate and conductive face
Specify aluminium alloy and temper, metal thickness separately from total laminate thickness, backing material, adhesive and any coating. State whether aluminium is exposed on the required contact face, the wrapping direction, slit width and tolerance, core dimensions, winding direction and permitted splices. Agree electrical continuity, bond strength and unwinding checks against an approved sample.
Trial the foil with your cable construction and wrapping equipment. Check overlap, contact with the drain wire, tearing during wrapping and adhesion after the agreed conditioning. Ask for composition information covering the aluminium, backing and adhesive. Inclusion of a substance on the UK REACH Candidate List brings supplier obligations; review the formulation information before supply.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 200 kg of plastic-backed cable shielding foil on slit reels under 7607 20 10 00, invoiced at £3,000 free on board, with £500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £3,500. Duty at 10% is £350. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £3,850, so it is £770. Import taxes total £1,120; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £350 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Dimensions: measure slit width and aluminium thickness separately from the backing; check reel length or net material weight against the order.
Surface and edges: inspect for pinholes, corrosion, oil residue, wrinkles and slit-edge burrs; compare defects with the agreed acceptance sample.
Bond and contact: check for delamination and adhesive transfer, identify the conductive face, and test continuity through the intended foil and drain-wire contact.
Reels and traceability: trial unwinding for blocking and telescoping; inspect cores, moisture protection, splice marking and batch labels. Arrange quality inspection around these checks.
Working out your own order? Send us the product on WhatsApp and we reply the same working day: WhatsApp us
What goes wrong
A laminate can look correct while its exposed face is insulating or its aluminium layer is thinner than ordered. Poor bonding separates the foil during wrapping, burrs damage adjacent insulation, and tight or uneven winding causes tearing. A foil continuity result alone does not demonstrate shielding performance in the finished cable.
Approve a production trial using the intended overlap and drain-wire arrangement before accepting bulk reels. Keep the approved layer construction and winding instructions with the order. A supplier's generic description of aluminium tape is insufficient for either inspection or tariff classification.
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 cable shielding foil from China?
Selected lines carry 6% to 10% standard duty. Specified converter foil may qualify for 0%. Small bare rolls under 7607 11 11 19 carry 7.50% plus 35.60% residual anti-dumping duty, subject to exporter-specific rates.
Is duty based on the total laminated foil thickness?
The heading's thickness excludes the backing. Thin backed foil under 7607 20 10 00 has aluminium below 0.021 mm and carries 10% duty. Record aluminium and total laminate thickness separately.
What should I test before buying cable shielding foil?
Check metal thickness, slit edges, bond strength, conductive-face orientation and unwinding. Trial the foil with your actual overlap and drain-wire arrangement, then assess shielding in the finished cable.
Should I request chemical information for laminated foil?
Yes. Request composition information for the backing, adhesive and coatings. Inclusion of a substance on the UK REACH Candidate List brings supplier obligations, so review the information before supplying the foil.