Sourcing aluminium industrial drums from China

UK duty on aluminium industrial drums

Heading 7612 covers aluminium containers of a capacity not exceeding 300 litres, for materials other than compressed or liquefied gas, without mechanical or thermal equipment. Ordinary industrial drums fall within the other-containers line, 7612 90 80 00. The table shows drum variants sharing that code. See the wider aluminium containers guide.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 24 October 2026, the supplied facts show 6% duty for goods from China, no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension for this line. The UK Trade Tariff attaches an import control of fluorinated greenhouse gases. The importer should confirm the requirement for the actual consignment with their customs broker.

Give your broker the capacity, material, closure drawing, intended contents and whether the drums arrive empty. Confirm the commodity code before ordering. Ask your customs broker to confirm whether the UK carbon border adjustment mechanism applies to the shipment, using the existing aluminium containers guide as background.

Specify the drum body, closure and contents

State the aluminium alloy, wall and base thickness tolerances, usable capacity, external dimensions and empty weight. Choose a removable lid with a locking ring or a fixed head with bung openings. Specify the gasket material, thread, closure tightening instructions and internal finish. Supply the intended contents and filling conditions so the factory can propose a compatible lining and seal.

For dangerous-goods carriage, packaging generally needs a design certified by a national competent authority. The packaging materials must be compatible with the contents. Ask for the relevant approval, supporting test report and closure instructions for the exact drum and gasket combination. For food use, consult the existing aluminium containers guide and confirm the applicable food-contact requirements and any lining documentation with the relevant authority.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: An illustrative batch of aluminium industrial drums, not a supplier quotation under 7612 90 80 00, invoiced at £30,000 free on board, with £3,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £33,000. Duty at 6% is £1,980. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £34,980, so it is £6,996. Import taxes total £8,976; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,980 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Body: measure thickness, dimensions and empty weight against the approved drawing; check welds, seams, dents and the condition of the base.

Closure: check lid seating, ring engagement, bung threads and gasket identity; perform the agreed leak test using the specified closure procedure.

Interior: inspect for oil, swarf, odour and coating defects; compare lining records and compatibility evidence with the intended contents.

Arrival and records: check pallet movement, damaged rims and distorted lids; match batch identification and any dangerous-goods approval records to the delivered design. Agree these checks at inspection.

What goes wrong

Thin walls dent during handling, distorted rims prevent lids seating, and damaged bung threads leak after filling. A substituted gasket can swell or lose compression in contact with the product. Poorly cleaned interiors contaminate the contents, while lining defects expose aluminium to attack.

A certificate for a different closure or drum design does not establish suitability for the drum supplied. Compare the production sample, paperwork and closure instructions before shipment. On arrival, separate damaged drums and record the defect before filling or dispatch.

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.