Sourcing anodised aluminium sheets from China

UK duty on anodised aluminium sheets

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 7606 covers aluminium plates, sheets and strip exceeding 0.2 mm thick. The table gives candidate lines for unbacked rectangular anodised sheets. Ordinary duty on goods from China is 6%. The supplied record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no attached import controls for these lines.

Codes 7606 12 92 93 and 7606 12 93 86 have a 0% suspension for qualifying sheets used to manufacture balcony parts. Other heading lines have separate specified-use suspensions. Do not assume decorative stock qualifies. Confirm composition, thickness, form, backing, finish and intended use with your broker using finding your commodity code. See the wider aluminium sheet guide for other products.

Confirm with HMRC or your broker whether and when the UK carbon border adjustment mechanism applies to your chosen aluminium line, and ask the factory for emissions information before ordering imports that may be covered. See the UK carbon border adjustment guide. Use UK import duty and VAT when comparing landed costs.

Alloy, anodic layer and colour acceptance

Specify alloy, temper, sheet thickness, dimensions, flatness and cut-edge condition. For the anodised finish, define anodic layer thickness, sealing quality, colour, gloss, texture and the faces to be finished. Agree whether cutting and bending happen before or after anodising, and whether cut edges need treatment. Keep approved physical samples showing the acceptable colour range. For embossed textures, see our embossed aluminium sheet sourcing guide.

For adjacent visible panels, agree grain direction and batch matching. Ask for layer-thickness and sealing test results linked to the production batch, with agreed methods and acceptance criteria. For building products, confirm the applicable conformity route before ordering. Great Britain accepts construction products where CE marking has been legitimately affixed; assess the supplied product rather than accepting a finish sample as compliance evidence.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 20 tonnes of anodised aluminium alloy sheets for a fabrication business; FOB and freight values are illustrative whole pounds. under 7606 12 93 87, 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

Material and dimensions: match batch-linked material certificates to the ordered alloy and temper; measure sheet thickness, dimensions, squareness and flatness against the drawing.

Anodic finish: measure the anodic layer using the agreed method, review sealing results and check for patchy colour, streaks, pits and visible rack marks.

Colour and fabrication: compare sheets with the approved samples under agreed lighting; check grain direction and trial the intended cutting or bending operation on production material.

Packing and arrival: check protective film removal, interleaving, edge protection and dry packing during quality inspection. Ensure any solid wood packaging meets the applicable requirements through your packing service or freight forwarder.

What goes wrong

A colour name alone leaves room for mismatched shades and gloss between batches. Alloy substitutions and inconsistent surface preparation can change appearance after anodising. Poor sealing can undermine finish performance. Agree an acceptable sample range and batch-linked checks before approving production.

Bending after anodising can crack the finish, while cutting can leave untreated edges. Protective film may leave adhesive residue, and sheets can arrive scratched or with crushed corners. Trial the fabrication sequence and film removal, then record surface and packing damage when the shipment arrives.

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.