Sourcing aluminium ingots and billets from China
Unwrought aluminium from China pays 2% UK duty for non-alloy metal and 6% for alloys, but tariff suspensions lower that: non-alloy ingots can enter at 0% until 30 June 2027, and alloy slabs and billets at 4%, or 0% for lithium alloys, until 31 December 2028. All of heading 7601 is in scope of UK CBAM from 1 January 2027.
Duty and suspensions
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, heading 7601 covers unwrought aluminium. The standard rates on goods from China were 2% for non-alloy aluminium and 6% for alloys, with no anti-dumping measure.
Two suspensions change that. For 7601 10 90 00, a 0% suspension runs from 18 July 2025 to 30 June 2027, but only for non-alloy aluminium ingots and for aluminium slugs used to make impact-extruded containers. For alloy slabs and billets under 7601 20 30 00 and 7601 20 40 00, the duty is suspended to 0% for aluminium alloy containing lithium, and partially suspended to 4% for other alloys, from 14 April 2025 to 31 December 2028. Suspensions are claimed on the declaration with the tariff's document codes, so give your customs agent the product description that matches the footnote.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-alloy aluminium slabs | 7601 10 10 00 | 2% | None |
| Other non-alloy unwrought aluminium, including ingots | 7601 10 90 00 | 2% | None |
| Aluminium alloy slabs | 7601 20 30 00 | 6% | None |
| Aluminium alloy billets | 7601 20 40 00 | 6% | None |
| Other unwrought aluminium alloys | 7601 20 80 00 | 6% | None |
UK CBAM from 2027
Heading 7601 is on the GOV.UK list of aluminium goods in scope of UK CBAM from 1 January 2027. An importer bringing in £50,000 or more of CBAM goods within 30 days, or over 12 months, must register and keep records of each import for 6 years, and suppliers' emissions data will affect the cost. See our UK CBAM guide.
Specifying the metal
Specify purity or alloy designation with composition limits, form and dimensions (ingot weight, billet diameter and length, slab size), homogenisation for extrusion billets, and bundle marking. Ask for a mill certificate with cast numbers per lot. Extrusions made from billet are covered in our aluminium extrusions guide.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 25 tonnes of 6063 aluminium billets, at the 4% partial suspension under 7601 20 40 00, invoiced at £60,000 free on board, with £2,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £62,200. Duty at 4% is £2,488. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £64,688, so it is £12,937.60. Import taxes total £15,425.60; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £2,488 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
What goes wrong
Aluminium orders fail on composition, suspension claims and weights. Alloy composition drifts outside limits, a suspension is claimed for goods its footnote does not cover, and bundle weights are short; from 2027, missing emissions data will add cost.
Cambridge China Bridge sources aluminium for UK extruders and foundries with composition testing and witnessed weighing agreed before payment. See factory verification.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on aluminium ingots from China?
The standard rate is 2%, but a 0% suspension applies to non-alloy ingots under 7601 10 90 00 until 30 June 2027.
What duty do aluminium alloy billets pay?
The standard rate is 6%; a partial suspension to 4%, or 0% for lithium alloys, applies until 31 December 2028.
Is unwrought aluminium in scope of UK CBAM?
Yes. Heading 7601 is on the GOV.UK CBAM list from 1 January 2027.
How do I claim a duty suspension?
On the import declaration, using the tariff's document code, for goods that match the suspension footnote.