Sourcing aluminium sheet and composite panels
Aluminium sheet, strip and composite panels from China pay 6% UK duty, with no anti-dumping duty. In England, regulation 7 of the Building Regulations 2010 bars metal composite material with a combustible core, such as polyethylene, from any building's external wall, and residential buildings of 18 m and above need A2-s1, d0 or A1 materials. Cambridge China Bridge sources sheet and panels.
Aluminium sheet and composite panels pay 6% UK duty from China. In England, polyethylene-core panels cannot go on any building's external wall.
Duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 25 September 2026, aluminium composite panels and non-alloy and alloy aluminium plates, sheet and strip over 0.2 mm carried 6% duty on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure on the lines checked.
Aluminium extrusions are a different product with a live anti-dumping measure; see the aluminium extrusions guide. Confirm the commodity code for each sheet by alloy, thickness and coating.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminium composite panel | 7606 11 30 00 | 6% | None |
| Non-alloy aluminium sheet, rectangular, other | 7606 11 91 89 | 6% | None |
Composite panels and external walls
Regulation 7(1A) of the Building Regulations 2010, in England, requires that relevant metal composite material does not become part of an external wall, or specified attachment, of any building. Regulation 2 defines it as a panel or sheet no more than 10 mm thick with two or more metal layers and a substantial layer of material with a gross calorific value of more than 35 MJ/kg, tested to BS EN ISO 1716. A polyethylene-core panel falls within it.
Regulation 7(2) goes further for relevant buildings, those with a storey at least 18 metres above ground containing dwellings, an institution or residential rooms: materials becoming part of the external wall must be of European Classification A2-s1, d0 or A1. For any panel intended for a façade, ask for the core type, the calorific value test and the reaction-to-fire classification report before the order.
Signage, interiors and fabrication
Composite panels remain widely used for signs, displays and interior fit-out, where the external wall rules do not apply, and a fire-rated core can be specified where the customer or building needs it. State the intended use in the product specification so the factory supplies the right core; the signage guide covers display work.
For sheet, specify the alloy, temper, thickness tolerance, flatness and surface, and for coated panels the paint system and its warranty.
Protection and packing
Sheet and panels are damaged by scratching and edge knocks, so ask for protective film, interleaving and crated pallets, and check the surface at inspection and the packing at the container loading.
Cambridge China Bridge sources aluminium sheet and composite panels for signage, fabrication and interiors, with the core, fire classification and finish confirmed for the intended use. See how our sourcing service works.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on aluminium composite panels from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 25 September 2026, aluminium composite panels and aluminium sheet carried 6% duty from China, with no anti-dumping duty on the lines checked.
Can polyethylene-core composite panels be used on buildings in England?
Not on external walls. Regulation 7(1A) of the Building Regulations 2010 bars relevant metal composite material from the external wall of any building.
What counts as relevant metal composite material?
A panel no more than 10 mm thick with two or more metal layers and a substantial layer with a gross calorific value above 35 MJ/kg, tested to BS EN ISO 1716.
What applies to buildings of 18 m and above?
For relevant buildings with a storey at least 18 m up containing dwellings or similar, external wall materials must be A2-s1, d0 or A1.