Sourcing bare thermocouple wire from China

2% duty on bare nickel-alloy thermocouple wire

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 7505 covers nickel bars, rods, profiles and wire. Bare thermocouple wire confirmed as nickel alloy falls within 7505 22 00 00, carrying 2% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff facts show no anti-dumping or countervailing measure and no suspension. The table describes buying variants sharing this code, rather than separate tariff subdivisions.

The tariff attaches import and export waste controls to nickel-alloy wire. For a China-to-England shipment subject to waste notification controls, shipping can start only after consent from the Environment Agency and the other competent authorities involved. Confirm the material's waste status and the applicable procedure with your customs broker before dispatch, especially for reclaimed wire or discarded coils.

Confirm the commodity code using the actual alloy composition and supplied form. Do not assume that insulated cable or an assembled probe has the same classification as bare wire. See the nichrome resistance wire guide for the wider heading, and the import duty and VAT guide for the calculation method.

Specify the alloy pair and temperature response

State the thermocouple designation and the alloy for each leg, including polarity. Specify diameter and tolerance, annealed or cold-drawn condition, surface cleanliness, continuous length, spool format and whether joints are acceptable. Agree the operating temperature range, permitted measurement error, calibration method and reference-junction conditions. Ask for batch-linked results for the paired wires, rather than a generic alloy certificate.

UK REACH covers individual substances on their own, in mixtures and in articles. Assess the obligations for your supplied wire and intended use before selling it. For purchasing acceptance, agree composition evidence, heat traceability and functional testing with the supplier; a composition check alone does not demonstrate thermocouple accuracy.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 2 coils of annealed bare nickel-alloy thermocouple wire under 7505 22 00 00, invoiced at £1,200 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £2,100. Duty at 2% is £42. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £2,142, so it is £428.40. Import taxes total £470.40; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £42 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Identity: match each spool's alloy, polarity, heat and batch identifiers to its certificate and the approved wire pairing.

Dimensions: measure diameter around sampled lengths and check ovality, kinks, surface damage and the agreed condition.

Response: test samples from the paired batches at agreed temperatures, using the agreed reference-junction conditions; compare readings with the acceptance specification.

Packing: check dry, protected spools, secure winding and identifiable wire ends. Retain labelled samples and record the checks using the quality inspection guide.

What goes wrong

Resistance wire can be offered as thermocouple wire because the alloy description sounds similar. Other failure modes include mixed polarities, substitution of extension-grade material, unmatched batches and calibration reports that do not identify the delivered spools. Require the intended sensing function and paired-batch acceptance results in the order.

Surface contamination, damaged wire and hidden joints can undermine fabrication and temperature response. Hold suspect spools apart until identity and performance are checked. Use factory verification to check the supplier's drawing, annealing, spool traceability and calibration arrangements before accepting a production batch.

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.