Sourcing aluminium extrusions from China
Aluminium bars, rods and profiles from China pay 6% UK duty, and extrusions weighing up to 14 kg per metre also carry anti-dumping duty of up to 35.1%, or 15.4% for non-sampled cooperating exporters. Structures, sub-assemblies, finished goods kits, welded tubes and larger extrusions are exempt. Cambridge China Bridge sources aluminium extrusions and fabricated parts with the duty checked first.
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The anti-dumping measure on extrusions
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 25 September 2026, aluminium alloy hollow profiles, bars, rods and other profiles, and unassembled aluminium profiles and tubes for structures, carried 6% duty on goods from China. The same codes carry a definitive anti-dumping measure for extrusions of up to 14 kg per metre: 35.1% for exporters not named, 15.4% for non-sampled cooperating exporters, and individual rates for sampled producers, which apply only with a signed invoice declaration. The tariff shows the current measure running to 16 December 2027. A full check on 26 September 2026 found the same anti-dumping measure on the non-alloy aluminium lines of 7604 10 as well; listed suspensions on some profiles and bars, such as thin-walled 6063 or 6060 hollow profiles, remove the 6% duty but not the anti-dumping duty.
The exemption code matters as much as the rate. The tariff exempts aluminium structures or parts of structures, sub-assemblies, products imported as a finished goods kit, welded tubes and pipes, and extrusions with a maximum cross-sectional dimension over 310 mm or a weight over 14 kg per metre. Whether a cut, drilled and anodised profile is still an extrusion or already a part is a classification question to settle before the order; the anti-dumping duty checker shows the measures on each code. For kit and subassembly classification, see our aluminium stage platforms guide. For pergola kits, see our guide to sourcing aluminium pergola kits. For finished door kits, see our aluminium bifold doors sourcing guide. For fence panels and kits, see sourcing aluminium fence panels. For booth structures and loose profiles, see our guide to sourcing aluminium office acoustic booths.
All the lines in the table above are in the aluminium sector of the UK carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM), which applies to imports from 1 January 2027. An importer who expects £50,000 or more of CBAM goods within 30 days, or has imported that much in the previous 12 months, must register, keep records for 6 years, and should ask suppliers for emissions data now. See our UK CBAM guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hollow profiles of aluminium alloys | 7604 21 00 00 | 6% | Up to 14 kg/m: 35.1% residual, 15.4% non-sampled cooperating |
| Bars and rods of aluminium alloys | 7604 29 10 00 | 6% | Up to 14 kg/m: 35.1% residual, 15.4% non-sampled cooperating |
| Other profiles of aluminium alloys | 7604 29 90 90 | 6% | Up to 14 kg/m: 35.1% residual, 15.4% non-sampled cooperating |
| Unassembled profiles, tubes and pipes for structures, not welded | 7610 90 90 10 | 6% | Up to 14 kg/m: 35.1% residual, 15.4% non-sampled cooperating |
| Aluminium doors, windows and their frames | 7610 10 00 00 | 6% | None |
Alloy, temper and tolerance
Extrusions are bought on the drawing and three specifications: the alloy, the temper, and the dimensional tolerance standard. Give the die drawing with critical dimensions marked, name the alloy and temper, and ask for mill certificates with each batch. A new die is a tooling cost and a lead time, so agree who owns it, as with injection moulds.
Check wall thickness, straightness and twist on production lengths at inspection, because an extrusion that is slightly out of tolerance may still look right and fail only when it is assembled.
Finishing and fabrication
Anodising and powder coating are specified by thickness and colour, so state the film or coating thickness and approve a colour sample under agreed lighting. Cutting, drilling and machining in China can save UK labour, but they can also change the product the anti-dumping measure applies to, so the fabrication plan and the duty should be decided together.
The custom metal components guide covers drawings and tolerances for machined parts.
Worked duty example
An invented example: 20,000 kg of 6063-T5 hollow window profiles weighing under 14 kg per metre, under 7604 21 00 00, from an exporter not named in the measure, bought for £60,000 free on board with £3,000 of freight and insurance, so the customs value is £63,000. Ordinary duty at 6% is £3,780 and residual anti-dumping duty at 35.1% is £22,113. Import VAT is 20% of the value plus both duties, £88,893, so £17,778.60. The £25,893 of duties is lasting cost; from a non-sampled cooperating exporter with the required invoice declaration the anti-dumping part would be 15.4%, £9,702. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Mechanical properties: tensile-test samples from each batch to BS EN ISO 6892-1 and compare proof stress, tensile strength and elongation with the values in BS EN 755-2 for the alloy and temper ordered.
Composition: check the mill certificate and a spectrometer reading on samples against the alloy limits in BS EN 573-3, and weigh profiles per metre to confirm which side of the 14 kg per metre line they fall.
Finishes: measure anodic film thickness by eddy current to ISO 2360 and sealing quality to ISO 3210, and for powder-coated profiles check thickness and adhesion against BS EN 12206-1.
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What goes wrong
Aluminium extrusions go wrong on duty first and dimensions second. The producer on the invoice is not the named or cooperating company, the invoice declaration is missing, or a profile over 14 kg per metre is mixed with lighter ones, so the wrong anti-dumping rate is declared. On the product, wall thickness and straightness miss the tolerance standard, temper is too soft because ageing was cut short, anodising film or powder coating is thinner than specified, and surfaces are scratched in packing.
Check the producer's name and invoice declaration wording against the measure before ordering and weigh profiles per metre, measure wall thickness, straightness and twist against EN 755-9 or EN 12020-2, test hardness on each batch for the specified temper, measure anodising or powder coating thickness against the agreed class, and check interleaving and end protection at packing. Keep producer details, invoice wording and profile weights together for UK customs clearance for aluminium extrusions.
Choosing the supplier
Because the rate depends on the producer, the supplier choice is a duty decision: a sampled producer with a valid invoice declaration and an unnamed exporter can differ by the whole residual rate. Compare the landed price for each candidate.
Cambridge China Bridge sources aluminium extrusions and fabricated parts: the drawing, alloy and finish specified, the duty and exemption checked for each item, and production inspected before shipment. See how our sourcing service works.
Related guides: Sourcing aluminium tubes and pipes from China. For the reverse trade, see exporting aluminium profiles to China.
For fabricated steel frames, platforms and structures, see Steel structures and fabrications from China.
Frequently asked questions
Is there anti-dumping duty on aluminium extrusions from China?
Yes, for extrusions up to 14 kg per metre: read from the UK Trade Tariff on 25 September 2026, 35.1% for exporters not named and 15.4% for non-sampled cooperating exporters, on top of 6% duty.
Which aluminium products are exempt?
Structures or parts of structures, sub-assemblies, finished goods kits, welded tubes and pipes, and extrusions over 310 mm maximum cross-section or over 14 kg per metre.
How long does the aluminium extrusion measure run?
The UK Trade Tariff showed the current measure running to 16 December 2027 when read on 25 September 2026.
What should an aluminium extrusion specification state?
The die drawing with critical dimensions, alloy and temper, the tolerance standard, and the anodising or coating thickness and colour.