Sourcing aluminium lithographic sheet from China
Aluminium lithographic substrate within heading 7606 carries 6% UK duty from China on the selected lines. Confirm the classification of the supplied material rather than relying on its printing use, and do not claim a balcony-use suspension for printing stock. Cambridge China Bridge sources aluminium lithographic sheet.
UK duty on lithographic aluminium substrate
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 7606 covers aluminium plates, sheets and strip exceeding 0.2 mm thick. This guide concerns substrate supplied for making lithographic plates. The table gives candidate substrate lines, not a classification for every product sold as lithographic sheet. For other applications, see aluminium sheet and composite panels. For marine applications, see our marine-grade aluminium plate sourcing guide. For reflective sheet, see our guide to sourcing mirror-finish aluminium sheets.
The selected lines carry 6% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no attached import controls recorded in the supplied snapshot. The suspension on 7606 12 92 93 is restricted to qualifying sheet for manufacturing balcony parts; printing stock does not meet that use condition. The other selected lines have no suspension recorded.
You must check whether a supplier's commodity code receives the same treatment in the UK. Give your broker the composition, thickness, backing, supplied form and details of any surface preparation or sensitising coating. Confirm the commodity code before ordering. Ask your customs broker to confirm whether the carbon border adjustment mechanism will apply to your shipment and when any obligations begin.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rectangular non-alloy sheet under 3 mm, unbacked | 7606 11 91 86 | 6% | None |
| Rectangular non-alloy sheet under 3 mm, other constructions | 7606 11 91 89 | 6% | None |
| Unbacked alloy stock under 3 mm, in coils or cut-to-length sheets | 7606 12 92 93 | 6% | None |
| Other rectangular unbacked alloy sheet under 3 mm | 7606 12 92 94 | 6% | None |
Specify the substrate and downstream process
State whether you want bare mill-finished substrate or material already surface-treated or coated for printing. Specify alloy or purity, temper, thickness tolerance, width, cut length, flatness, rolling direction and surface cleanliness. Ask for a mill certificate tied to each supplied lot, and agree whether the material will arrive as coils or cut sheets.
For substrate that you will grain, anodise or coat, approve a trial through your own process before accepting the production lot. Agree acceptance criteria for treatment uniformity, coating adhesion and printing performance. Ask for the composition of any supplied coating and assess the relevant chemical obligations: UK REACH regulates chemicals placed on the market in Great Britain.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 3,000 cut sheets of bare lithographic substrate, illustrative order under 7606 11 91 86, invoiced at £36,000 free on board, with £4,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £40,000. Duty at 6% is £2,400. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £42,400, so it is £8,480. Import taxes total £10,880; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £2,400 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Dimensions: measure thickness across the width and along sampled sheets; check cut size, squareness, flatness and edge burrs against the purchase specification.
Surface: inspect for scratches, dents, oil, stains and embedded particles under agreed lighting; compare both faces with the approved sample.
Process trial: take material from the production lot and run the intended cleaning, surface treatment and coating process; compare the result with the approved trial.
Packing and identity: match mill certificates and pack labels to the lot; check interleaving, moisture protection and edge supports. Agree these checks at inspection.
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What goes wrong
Buying only by nominal thickness leaves surface quality and process compatibility unresolved. Oil residue, scratches and uneven treatment can cause coating defects; distorted sheets or burred edges can disrupt handling. Keep a reference sample and record defects by lot so that a replacement can be compared with the original material.
A description such as printing aluminium can conceal a change from bare substrate to prepared or sensitised plates. Ask the factory to identify every treatment and coating in the quotation and shipping description, then have the broker reassess classification when the supplied condition changes.
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 lithographic sheet from China?
The selected substrate lines under heading 7606 carry 6% duty from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty recorded. The balcony-parts suspension does not cover printing use.
Does every aluminium printing plate belong under heading 7606?
Do not assume that it does. Give your broker the supplied form, surface treatment and coating details, particularly if the material is prepared or sensitised rather than bare substrate.
What should I specify for lithographic aluminium sheet?
Specify alloy or purity, temper, thickness tolerance, dimensions, flatness, surface cleanliness and supplied condition. Approve material through your intended plate-making process.
How do I check a shipment before using it?
Match the lot to its mill certificate, measure dimensions and flatness, inspect surfaces and packing, and trial production-lot material through your treatment and coating process.