Sourcing aluminium pipe fittings from China

4% duty

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 27 September 2026, aluminium tube or pipe fittings (for example, couplings, elbows, sleeves), heading 7609, carried 4% on goods from China on every line, including the listed automotive air conditioning and heat exchanger connection blocks, with no anti-dumping measure. Fittings for certain aircraft can be suspended to 0% under authorised use.

Aluminium tubes themselves are under heading 7608, and valves and taps under 8481, so confirm the commodity code. Steel and copper fittings are covered in our steel pipe fittings guide and copper and brass fittings guide. For nickel products, see our guide to nickel tubes and pipe fittings. For copper plumbing connections, see our copper press-fit fittings sourcing guide.

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.

Pressure and materials

Fittings used in compressed air, gas or refrigerant piping can fall under the Pressure Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 as part of the piping, depending on the fluid, pressure and size, so agree the pressure rating and any conformity evidence with the system designer. Refrigerant fittings must suit the refrigerant and its pressures.

Ask for the alloy and temper on a mill certificate, the thread form (BSP, NPT or metric), seal material, and a pressure test report for each batch.

Specifying fittings

Specify tube outside diameter and wall, fitting type, connection method (thread, push-fit, compression, brazed), alloy and temper, working and burst pressure, temperature range, seal material, anodising or coating, and marking and packing.

Worked duty example

For a made-up shipment of 8,000 aluminium compressed-air pipe fittings under 7609 00 00 90, add the £1,200 of freight and insurance to the £24,000 free-on-board price and customs sees £25,200. At 4%, duty on these aluminium fittings is £1,008; import VAT of £5,241.60 is 20% of the value with duty added. Together that is £6,249.60, but a VAT-registered importer usually gets the VAT back. The duty and VAT guide walks through the calculation.

Inspection checklist

Dimensions and threads: check bore, outside diameter and thread gauges on samples from each size, and fit fittings to your tube.

Pressure and leaks: pressure test samples to the agreed test pressure and check for leaks at seals and threads.

Finish and documents: check anodising and burrs, and the mill certificates and pressure test reports, before shipment.

What goes wrong

Aluminium fitting orders fail on alloy, threads and seals. A softer alloy is substituted and threads strip, thread forms do not match the system, O-rings are the wrong material and leak, castings are porous, and burrs block small bores.

Specify alloy and threads, pressure test samples, and check mill certificates. See our quality inspection guide.

Cambridge China Bridge sources aluminium pipe fittings for UK compressed air, HVAC and automotive suppliers, checking the maker's machining and test equipment first. See factory verification.

Related guides: Nickel tubes and pipe fittings from China.