Sourcing aluminium enclosures from China
Aluminium equipment enclosures classified under heading 7616 carry a standard UK duty of 6% from China. Listed suspensions are product-specific, so do not assume an enclosure qualifies. Confirm classification from its construction and intended use. Cambridge China Bridge sources aluminium equipment enclosures.
UK duty on aluminium equipment enclosures
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, heading 7616 covers other articles of aluminium. This guide concerns empty equipment housings. The table gives possible enclosure lines and separately supplied aluminium fasteners; confirm the actual classification rather than treating every equipment housing as a general aluminium article.
The supplied lines carry a standard duty of 6% for goods from China, with no recorded anti-dumping or countervailing duty. Cast and other manufactured article lines have product-specific suspensions at 0.00 %, whose descriptions do not cover ordinary equipment enclosures. The non-cast enclosure lines also attach torture-goods import prohibitions and export restrictions. The official import notice limits its ban to listed goods; ask your broker to confirm the product description and any declaration requirement.
Give your broker drawings, manufacturing method, intended equipment and details of anything fitted inside. Use finding your commodity code before ordering. The aluminium heat sinks guide covers the wider heading context.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cast aluminium equipment enclosures, subject to classification | 7616 99 10 99 | 6% | None |
| Other aluminium equipment enclosures, subject to classification | 7616 99 90 99 | 6% | None |
| Hand-made aluminium equipment enclosures, subject to classification | 7616 99 90 09 | 6% | None |
| Aluminium screws, nuts and washers supplied separately for enclosures | 7616 10 00 99 | 6% | None |
Drawings, lids and sealing surfaces
Specify the alloy, cast or fabricated construction, wall thickness, internal clearance, mounting bosses, threaded holes and connector cut-outs. Mark the dimensions that control assembly and agree tolerances on the drawing. Supply the mating board, panel or a checking fixture where fit is critical.
Agree the lid profile, gasket material, sealing groove, fasteners and finish. Identify surfaces that must remain free of coating for electrical bonding. Ask for sealing tests on the finished enclosure with the intended lid and cable entries. For housings supplied with electrical equipment fitted, arrange a separate review through testing and certification.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of 30 custom cast aluminium equipment enclosures under 7616 99 10 99, invoiced at £3,000 free on board, with £2,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £5,200. Duty at 6% is £312. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £5,512, so it is £1,102.40. Import taxes total £1,414.40; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £312 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Fit: check internal clearance, mounting positions, cut-outs and lid alignment against the approved drawing and mating parts.
Threads and edges: check thread engagement, fastening and repeated lid removal; look for burrs, sharp edges and swarf.
Sealing and finish: check gasket continuity, sealing-face flatness, casting defects, coating coverage and agreed uncoated bonding surfaces.
Packing: check that lids, gaskets and fasteners match each housing, and that separators prevent rubbing in transit. Agree these checks at inspection.
What goes wrong
A housing can match the external dimensions yet leave too little room for connectors or wiring. Misplaced bosses, shallow threads and distorted lids make assembly difficult. Coating on a sealing face or bonding point can spoil the intended function.
Approve a fully machined and finished sample with the intended contents installed. Keep the drawing revision and accepted sample tied to the order, and repeat the fit and sealing checks on production goods.
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 equipment enclosures from China?
The supplied heading 7616 lines carry a standard duty of 6%. Product-specific suspensions do not describe ordinary enclosures. Confirm the code from the housing's construction and intended use.
Should I buy a cast or fabricated aluminium enclosure?
Choose against the drawing, finish, sealing needs and assembly method. Ask the factory to demonstrate the critical dimensions and lid fit on a finished sample.
How do I check an aluminium enclosure is watertight?
Agree the intended exposure and test method before ordering. Test the finished housing with its actual gasket, lid, fasteners and cable entries, rather than relying on a catalogue description.
What should I send a Chinese enclosure factory?
Send the controlled drawing, alloy, finish, critical tolerances, mounting and connector details, gasket specification and packing requirements. Include mating parts or a checking fixture.