Sourcing aluminium square bars from China
Aluminium square bars from China normally pay 6% UK duty; a qualifying suspension can reduce ordinary duty to 0%. Covered extrusions can also attract anti-dumping duty up to 35.1%. Confirm the alloy, suspension eligibility and exporter before ordering. Cambridge China Bridge sources aluminium square bars.
Duty and classification for square bars
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, heading 7604 covers aluminium bars, rods and profiles. The supplied solid-bar lines carry 6% ordinary duty for goods from China. The alloy-bar line has a narrowly specified 0% suspension, but its supplied footnote is incomplete: ask your broker to check the full conditions before claiming it. The alloy and aluminium-lithium rows share a code. The extract lists no attached import controls.
The extract's anti-dumping fields are blank, so they do not establish that no additional duty applies. The published reference guide and official definitive notice identify a measure on covered aluminium extrusions from China. The reference gives a 35.1% residual rate and 15.4% for non-sampled cooperating exporters, with exporter-specific treatment requiring a signed invoice declaration. A suspension removes ordinary duty only. Ask your broker to reconcile the extract with the measure before shipment.
Confirm the code using composition, a cross-section drawing and the supplied condition, following finding your commodity code. For wider heading coverage, see aluminium flat bars. The reference guide identifies these aluminium lines as within the UK carbon border adjustment mechanism from 1 January 2027; discuss supplier emissions data before repeat orders.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-alloy square bars, unassembled, containing not more than 99.3% aluminium | 7604 10 10 11 | 6% | See the tariff |
| Other non-alloy aluminium square bars | 7604 10 10 90 | 6% | See the tariff |
| Aluminium alloy square bars | 7604 29 10 00 | 6% | See the tariff |
Specify the square section and machining allowance
Specify solid square bar, alloy, temper, manufacturing process and cut length. Put side dimensions, corner radius, squareness, straightness, twist and surface condition on the drawing. For machining stock, agree the allowance needed to clean up every face and whether saw-cut ends must be deburred.
Ask for mill certificates tied to batch markings, and agree composition and mechanical-property checks. For construction use, check the relevant designated standard; products outside its coverage may be covered by a technical assessment document. Establish the intended use and documentation before agreeing supply.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: A trial bundle of cut-to-length aluminium alloy square bars, sent by air; illustrative under 7604 29 10 00, invoiced at £3,000 free on board, with £2,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £5,200. Duty at 6% is £312. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £5,512, so it is £1,102.40. Import taxes total £1,414.40; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £312 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Section: measure across adjacent faces along sampled bars, checking squareness, corner radius and machining allowance against the drawing.
Straightness: check full lengths for bow and twist, and inspect cut ends for angled cuts and burrs.
Material: match bundle markings to mill certificates; compare composition and hardness or tensile results with the ordered alloy and temper.
Arrival: check bundle quantities, length identification, surface dents, scratches and moisture staining; record damage before unpacking. Agree these checks through quality inspection.
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What goes wrong
A bar can meet its nominal side dimension but leave too little machining allowance at rounded corners. Bow, twist or a soft temper can cause problems during clamping and machining. Mixed batches and missing bundle labels make certificates difficult to match to the delivered metal.
Duty errors arise when buyers treat the blank anti-dumping field as an exemption or assume every alloy bar qualifies for suspension. Check the producer, invoice declaration and complete suspension wording before dispatch. Agree separators and end protection so transport damage does not consume the machining allowance.
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 square bars from China?
The supplied bar lines carry 6% ordinary duty. The alloy-bar line has a narrowly specified 0% suspension. Confirm eligibility and check anti-dumping separately.
Do aluminium square bars attract anti-dumping duty?
Covered extrusions can attract additional duty: the reference gives 35.1% residual and 15.4% for non-sampled cooperating exporters. The extract's blank fields need checking against the official measure.
What should I specify when buying aluminium square bars?
Specify alloy, temper, process, side dimensions, corner radius, length, straightness, twist and machining allowance. Require batch markings that match the mill certificates.
What should I check before selling square bars for construction?
Confirm intended use and the relevant designated standard. Products outside its coverage may be covered by a technical assessment document. Agree the applicable documentation before supply.