Sourcing fibre-cement fence panels from China

Zero duty on asbestos-free fence panels

Heading 6811 covers articles of asbestos-cement, cellulose fibre-cement or similar materials. This guide concerns asbestos-free fence panels. Flat panels and infill sheets fall within the description of 6811 82 00 00; corrugated sheets have the separate code 6811 81 00 00. The table shows different panel forms, with flat, textured and infill products sharing a tariff line.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, the relevant asbestos-free lines carried 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing measures, suspensions or attached import controls. This does not override UK REACH: articles with intentionally added asbestos cannot be placed on the market, and placing on the market includes import.

Confirm the composition and physical form with your broker before using a commodity code. Do not assume that every cement-based fence product belongs here. See the wider fibre-cement guide for other products within the heading.

Specify the panel and its fence assembly

Write an asbestos-free clause into the order and agree laboratory testing of production samples before shipment. Specify panel dimensions, thickness, squareness, edge profile, surface texture and coating colour. Provide drawings of the post grooves, rails, brackets and fixing holes so the factory can demonstrate fit with the actual supporting parts.

Agree evidence of bending strength, moisture movement, frost resistance and coating adhesion for outdoor use. Ask for the installation instructions, including support spacing, fixing clearances and movement allowances. Have the proposed panel, posts and fixings reviewed together for the intended site exposure; a sheet-strength report alone does not demonstrate the performance of the assembled fence.

Confirm whether the product and intended use are covered by a designated construction-product standard or technical assessment. For sheets covered by the applicable standard, confirm the performance-document requirements with the relevant construction-product authority and request supporting reports, using the wider guide as a starting point. CE marking remains accepted for construction products in Great Britain. Do not treat a marking as evidence that a particular fence layout is suitable.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative container order of flat fence panels for a fencing contractor under 6811 82 00 00, invoiced at £9,000 free on board, with £2,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £11,500. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £11,500, so it is £2,300. With no duty, the only import tax is the VAT, which a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Material: check that asbestos reports identify the supplied product and production batch, rather than an unrelated sample. Match the material declaration to the order.

Fit: measure thickness, dimensions, diagonals and flatness against the agreed drawing. Trial-fit panels into the specified posts or brackets and check fixing-hole positions.

Finish: inspect edges, corners and fixing areas for chips and cracks. Compare texture and colour with the approved sample; check coating adhesion and visible staining.

Packing and arrival: check pallet support, edge protection and restraint before shipment. On arrival, photograph damaged packaging and inspect panels before installation. Agree the sampling scope using the inspection guide.

What goes wrong

Panels can look acceptable loose but bind in post grooves, leave uneven gaps or crack around fixings. Inadequate curing or conditioning can lead to bowing and movement after installation. Outdoor exposure can reveal coating blistering, colour variation or efflorescence that was not visible on the showroom sample.

Transit damage concentrates at unsupported edges and corners. Approve the packing arrangement as well as the panel sample, and record defects before unloading obscures their cause. An asbestos-free sales description is insufficient purchasing evidence: agree the material specification and production-sample testing before shipment.

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.