Sourcing bearing steel wire from China
Bearing steel wire meeting the chromium and carbon definition carries 0% UK duty from China, with no anti-dumping duty or steel measure shown in the supplied tariff record. Classify it by its actual chemistry, rather than the supplier's bearing-steel description. Cambridge China Bridge sources bearing steel wire.
Bearing steel wire duty and classification
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 7229 covers wire of other alloy steel. The bearing-steel line, 7229 90 50 00, specifies carbon from 0.9% to 1.15%, chromium from 0.5% to 2% and, if present, molybdenum not exceeding 0.5%. It carries 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied record lists no trade remedies, steel measure or suspensions for this line.
The UK Trade Tariff attaches import and export waste controls. For a shipment from China to England that falls under waste notification controls, shipment can start only after consent from the Environment Agency and the other competent authorities involved. Ask your customs broker to confirm whether the attached control affects your consignment, particularly if buying rejected material or scrap.
Match the heat analysis and supplied product form to the commodity code. Only the supplied line specifically describing bearing-steel chemistry is shown here. For related wire within the wider heading, see the high-speed steel wire guide. CBAM starts on 1 January 2027; confirm with HMRC or your customs broker whether the supplied goods fall within its scope. Request supplier emissions information and consult the UK CBAM guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chromium bearing steel wire meeting the specified tariff chemistry | 7229 90 50 00 | 0% | None |
Specify bearing steel chemistry and condition
Specify the bearing steel grade, diameter, ovality tolerance, delivery condition and intended forming and heat-treatment process. Bearing steels are specified to ISO 683-17 in the published background guide. Agree whether the wire is drawn, annealed or spheroidised, and state the hardness range, surface finish and coil dimensions your equipment needs.
Agree acceptance criteria for non-metallic inclusions, carbide distribution, decarburisation and surface seams. Ask for heat-linked chemical analysis and test results, with samples for a forming and hardening trial. Review the steel composition and any coating or lubricant against UK REACH: it generally applies to individual chemical substances on their own, in mixtures or in articles.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 20 tonnes of chromium bearing steel wire in coils under 7229 90 50 00, invoiced at £22,000 free on board, with £2,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £24,500. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £24,500, so it is £4,900. 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
Traceability: match each coil label to its heat certificate and check the carbon, chromium and molybdenum analysis against the purchase specification.
Dimensions and surface: measure diameter and ovality across sampled coils; examine the wire for seams, scratches, rust and handling damage.
Metallurgy: check the agreed hardness, spheroidisation, inclusion and decarburisation results; retain identified samples for independent testing where needed.
Packing: check moisture protection, coil restraints and readable heat labels. Use the inspection guide to agree sampling and reporting before dispatch.
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What goes wrong
Matching bulk chemistry does not establish suitability for bearing manufacture. Surface seams can open during forming, decarburisation can affect surface hardness, and unsuitable carbide distribution can disrupt forming or heat treatment. Accept the delivery condition through a trial using your intended process.
Mixed heat labels break traceability, while damp packing can leave corrosion pits on wire intended for precision parts. Keep affected coils separate and compare the retained samples, certificates and inspection photographs before agreeing a remedy.
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 bearing steel wire from China?
The supplied tariff record gives 0% for 7229 90 50 00, with no trade remedies or steel measure listed. Confirm that the wire meets this line's chemistry.
Which commodity code covers chromium bearing steel wire?
7229 90 50 00 covers wire with carbon from 0.9% to 1.15%, chromium from 0.5% to 2% and, if present, molybdenum not exceeding 0.5%. Check the actual heat analysis.
What should I ask the Chinese mill to supply?
Ask for heat-linked chemistry, delivery condition, hardness and the agreed inclusion, carbide and decarburisation results. Match these documents to the coil labels and test a sample in your process.
Does the waste control apply to new bearing steel wire?
The tariff attaches waste controls. Ask your broker to confirm their application to your consignment. Waste subject to notification controls needs the relevant authorities' consent before shipment to England.