Sourcing aluminium Z-section profiles from China
Aluminium Z-section profiles from China carry 6% ordinary UK duty across the relevant lines. In-scope extrusions can also attract up to 35.1% anti-dumping duty. Check the alloy, cross-section and producer before ordering, then specify flange offset, wall thickness and finish. Cambridge China Bridge sources aluminium Z-section profiles.
UK duty on aluminium Z-section profiles
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, heading 7604 covers aluminium bars, rods and profiles. The relevant profile lines all show 6% ordinary duty for goods from China. Open alloy Z-sections belong in the other-profiles family; the hollow row is relevant only to a variant with an enclosed chamber. Some hollow profiles have a narrowly specified suspension of ordinary duty, which does not remove anti-dumping duty. No import controls are recorded for these lines in the supplied extract.
The extract leaves its anti-dumping fields blank. The published reference guide and official notice identify an additional measure on in-scope Chinese extrusions: 35.1% residual duty, 15.4% for listed non-sampled cooperating exporters, and individual producer rates. Reduced producer rates require the signed invoice declaration. Extrusions exceeding 310 mm in maximum cross-sectional dimension or 14 kg per metre are excluded under the measure's conditions. Have your broker check the actual producer, scope and supporting declaration before costing the order.
Confirm classification from the drawing, composition and supplied condition using finding your commodity code. For wider heading coverage, see aluminium U-channel profiles. Confirm with HMRC or your customs broker whether heading 7604 falls within the UK carbon border adjustment mechanism for imports planned from 1 January 2027; request supplier emissions data when planning those imports. The duty and VAT guide explains the calculation.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open aluminium alloy Z-section profiles | 7604 29 90 90 | 6% | See the tariff |
| Unassembled non-alloy Z-section profiles containing no more than 99.3% aluminium | 7604 10 90 80 | 6% | See the tariff |
| Other non-alloy aluminium Z-section profiles | 7604 10 90 89 | 6% | See the tariff |
| Hollow alloy variants with a Z-shaped outer form and an enclosed chamber | 7604 21 00 00 | 6% | See the tariff |
Specify flange offset and mating fit
Provide a dimensioned cross-section showing web height, flange widths, their opposite-facing orientation, wall thickness and corner radii. Identify the mating panel, rail or bracket and the surfaces that locate against it. State alloy, temper, cut length, straightness, twist and hole positions. Approve a sample in the actual assembly before releasing production.
Specify anodising or powder coating by thickness, colour and visible face. Agree whether dimensions apply before or after finishing, and mark contact surfaces that need masking. For building use, arrange a review of intended use, performance documents and marking through testing and certification. Legitimately CE-marked construction products can continue to be supplied in Great Britain.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative: 3,000 kg of open aluminium alloy Z-section profiles under 7604 29 90 90, invoiced at £9,702 free on board, with £2,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £11,902. Duty at 6% is £714.12. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £12,616.12, so it is £2,523.22. Import taxes total £3,237.34; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £714.12 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Geometry: measure flange widths, web height, offset, wall thickness and corner radii against the drawing; trial-fit profiles with the mating component.
Straightness: check production lengths for bow and twist, then verify cut squareness, hole positions and burr removal during inspection. Repeat the fit check on arrival.
Material: match batch certificates to bundle identification, verify alloy composition and check hardness against the agreed temper.
Finish and packing: measure coating thickness, compare colour and inspect flange edges for bare areas, scratches and dents. Check interleaving, end protection and bundle support.
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What goes wrong
A reversed flange orientation or an incorrect offset can make an otherwise neat profile unusable. Twist prevents long sections sitting flush, while coating build-up closes a mating clearance. Thin walls deform during tightening, and unsupported bundles arrive bowed. Mark orientation on the drawing and check the finished assembly rather than approving appearance alone.
A supplier's ordinary-duty figure can omit anti-dumping duty. Check the producing company and invoice declaration before shipment. Keep profile drawings and batch identification with the order records so the broker and inspector assess the same goods.
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 Z-section profiles from China?
The relevant lines show 6% ordinary duty. In-scope Chinese extrusions also attract producer-dependent anti-dumping duty, with a 35.1% residual rate. Check the producer and declaration before ordering.
Which commodity code covers an aluminium alloy Z-section?
7604 29 90 90 is the relevant other-profiles line for an open alloy Z-section. Give your broker the drawing, composition and supplied condition to confirm classification.
What should I put on the Z-section drawing?
Show flange orientation, flange widths, web height, offset, wall thickness, corner radii, cut length and hole positions. State alloy, temper, finish and the critical mating clearances.
How do I check whether Z-section profiles fit?
Measure the finished cross-section and trial-fit production samples with the actual mating panel or bracket. Check bow, twist and coating build-up along production lengths.