Sourcing aluminium horseshoes from China
Aluminium horseshoes classified under heading 7616 carry 6% standard UK duty from China; the listed 0% suspensions concern other specified goods. Confirm the manufacturing method, commodity code and attached control footnotes before shipment, then agree alloy and fitting checks. Cambridge China Bridge sources aluminium horseshoes.
Duty and classification for aluminium horseshoes
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, heading 7616 covers other articles of aluminium. The horseshoe candidates shown carry 6% standard duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty recorded. Listed 0% suspensions cover specified other goods, rather than ordinary aluminium horseshoes.
The non-cast candidate lines attach torture-and-repression import prohibitions and export restrictions. The official import notice lists the banned goods by description in its annex. Ask your customs broker to confirm the attached requirements against the actual horseshoes from China and their intended use before shipment.
Send drawings, alloy details and the manufacturing process to your broker to confirm the commodity code. The table repeats the residual code for front and hind variants; these are not separate tariff classifications. Use cast or hand-made candidates only if the supplied goods fit those descriptions. For associated fasteners, see the horseshoe nails guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other aluminium articles: candidate for manufactured front horseshoes | 7616 99 90 99 | 6% | None |
| Other cast aluminium articles: candidate for cast horseshoes | 7616 99 10 99 | 6% | None |
| Other hand-made aluminium articles: check method for hand-made horseshoes | 7616 99 90 09 | 6% | None |
Specify hoof shape, alloy and nail seating
Specify front or hind pattern, intended use, size range, outline, branch width, thickness, heel length and hoof-contact flatness. Define nail-hole positions, pitch and countersink shape around the nails your customers use. Show toe or side clips, grooves and any stud holes on the drawing. Agree whether shoes are supplied individually or in matched pairs.
Specify alloy and temper, manufacturing method, surface finish and batch-linked material records. Ask a farrier to assess samples using the intended shaping and fitting process. Agree acceptance criteria for cracking during adjustment, clip integrity and nail seating before approving production.
For sales in Great Britain, check whether the shoes are intended or reasonably likely to be used by consumers, bringing them within general product safety scope. For consumer sales, you must not sell shoes you know or should have known are unsafe. Keep your sample assessment and agreed checks with the purchase specification.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative trial consignment of manufactured front and hind aluminium horseshoes for a farriery supplier, assuming classification is confirmed under 7616 99 90 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
Shape: compare front and hind outlines, branch dimensions, heel length and flatness with the approved drawing; check matched pairs.
Nail seating: trial the specified nails in the holes and countersinks; inspect hole edges, grooves and clip positions for burrs or cracks.
Material and adjustment: match material records to the batch and witness the agreed shaping trial; inspect for cracking and distortion.
Arrival and packing: check dents, bent clips, mixed sizes and missing shoes; match carton labels to the contents using the quality inspection guide.
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What goes wrong
A supplier's size label may conceal a different outline or heel length. Incorrect hole pitch or countersinks can prevent the intended nails from seating correctly. An unsuitable alloy or temper can crack during adjustment, while distorted branches leave an uneven hoof-contact face. Approve physical samples against your drawing rather than ordering by catalogue size alone.
Mixed front and hind patterns, damaged clips and substituted material can escape a visual carton check. Separate affected batches on arrival and compare them with retained samples before release. Have a farrier assess fit and adjustment; a dimensional inspection alone does not establish suitability for the intended horse and use.
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 horseshoes from China?
The supplied heading 7616 candidates carry 6% standard duty, with no recorded anti-dumping or countervailing duty. Listed 0% suspensions concern other specified goods. Confirm the finished horseshoe's code.
Which commodity code should I use for aluminium horseshoes?
Ask your broker to review drawings and the manufacturing process. The residual, cast and hand-made candidates depend on the actual goods; front and hind patterns do not automatically need different codes.
What should I specify when ordering aluminium horseshoes?
Specify front or hind pattern, outline, dimensions, alloy and temper, nail-hole pitch and seating, clips and finish. Approve samples with the intended nails and a farrier's shaping trial.
How do I check aluminium horseshoes when they arrive?
Check outline, flatness, hole seating, cracks, bent clips and mixed sizes. Match batch records and labels to the goods, then repeat the agreed adjustment checks before releasing stock.