Sourcing aluminium chequer plate from China
Aluminium chequer plate from China normally pays 6% UK duty; qualifying balcony-part sheet lines have a 0% suspension. Workplace flooring must suit the work activity, so specify base thickness and assess the intended walking surface. Cambridge China Bridge sources aluminium chequer plate.
UK duty on aluminium chequer plate
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 3 October 2026, heading 7606 covers aluminium plates, sheets and strip exceeding 0.2 mm thick. The table gives candidate lines for unbacked rectangular alloy chequer plate. The ordinary duty is 6% on goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no attached import controls for these lines.
Codes 7606 12 92 93 and 7606 12 93 86 carry a 0% suspension limited to qualifying sheet for manufacturing balcony parts. Do not assume ordinary flooring stock qualifies. Other heading lines have separate specified-use suspensions. Confirm alloy, thickness, coating, form and intended use with your broker using finding your commodity code. The wider aluminium sheet guide covers the heading beyond chequer plate.
Confirm with HMRC or your customs broker whether these aluminium lines fall within UK CBAM scope. CBAM comes into effect on 1 January 2027. Ask the factory about emissions information before ordering stock for imports from that date, and check the UK CBAM guide. Use UK import duty and VAT when comparing landed costs.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rectangular alloy sheet, under 3 mm, cut to length, unbacked | 7606 12 92 93 | 6% | None |
| Other rectangular alloy plate, under 3 mm, unbacked | 7606 12 92 94 | 6% | None |
| Rectangular alloy sheet, 3 mm to under 6 mm, cut to length, unbacked | 7606 12 93 86 | 6% | None |
| Other rectangular alloy plate, 3 mm to under 6 mm, unbacked | 7606 12 93 87 | 6% | None |
| Rectangular alloy plate, over 6 mm, unbacked, excluding aluminium-lithium | 7606 12 99 86 | 6% | None |
| Other rectangular alloy plate, at least 6 mm, unbacked, excluding aluminium-lithium | 7606 12 99 87 | 6% | None |
Base thickness, raised pattern and intended use
Specify alloy, temper, base thickness beneath the raised pattern, pattern height and spacing, sheet dimensions, flatness, finish and cut-edge condition. Agree how thickness will be measured: an overall measurement across a raised bar can hide a thinner base. Keep an approved sample and drawing for comparison with production.
Describe whether the plate is for vehicle lining, decorative cladding or a walking surface. For load-bearing use, ask the project designer to specify support spacing, loading and fixing details. HSE states that workplace floors must suit the work activity. Request slip-performance evidence for the intended footwear and contamination conditions rather than accepting a raised pattern as proof of suitability.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 20 tonnes of rectangular aluminium alloy chequer plate for a fabrication business; FOB and freight values are illustrative whole pounds. under 7606 12 93 87, 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
Material: match mill certificates and batch identifiers to the ordered alloy and temper; investigate any unexplained substitution.
Dimensions: measure base thickness away from raised bars, pattern height, length, width, squareness and flatness against the agreed drawing.
Surface and edges: check for flattened pattern, scratches, dents, rolling residue, sharp burrs and distortion around cut edges.
Packing and traceability: check interleaving, edge protection, dry packing and batch labels; record arrival damage during quality inspection.
What goes wrong
A supplier may quote overall thickness while the buyer expects base thickness. The resulting plate can be lighter and less stiff than intended. Alloy or temper substitutions can also change bending behaviour. Make the measurement method and material evidence part of the purchase specification.
A raised pattern alone does not establish slip suitability. HSE notes that some footwear gains less slip resistance from surface profiles than expected. Check the intended combination before approving a walking surface. Also watch for wet-stack staining, crushed corners and scratched faces caused by poor packing.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on aluminium chequer plate from China?
The listed candidate lines carry 6% ordinary duty, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty recorded. Qualifying balcony-part sheet under specified lines has a 0% suspension.
Does chequer plate thickness include the raised pattern?
Supplier descriptions can differ. Specify base thickness beneath the pattern and pattern height separately, with an agreed measurement method.
Is aluminium chequer plate automatically slip-resistant?
Do not assume so. Assess the surface with the intended footwear and contamination conditions. HSE warns that some footwear gains less slip resistance from surface profiles than expected.
What should I ask the Chinese factory to supply?
Ask for an agreed drawing, alloy and temper evidence, batch-linked mill certificates, an approved pattern sample and packing details. For walking surfaces, request relevant slip-performance evidence.