Sourcing boron cold-heading wire from China
Boron-alloy cold-heading steel wire from China carries 0% UK duty under the other alloy steel wire line, with no trade remedy listed in the supplied tariff record. Confirm the chemistry and drawn-wire form; waste controls apply if the material is waste. Cambridge China Bridge sources boron-alloy cold-heading steel wire.
Duty on boron-alloy cold-heading wire
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 7229 covers wire of other alloy steel. For boron-alloy cold-heading wire meeting the other alloy steel description, the relevant supplied line is 7229 90 90 00, carrying 0% duty from China. The supplied record lists no trade remedies, steel measure or suspensions. The table shows purchasing variants sharing that line, subject to confirmation of their composition and finish.
The tariff attaches import and export waste controls. Waste shipment controls apply only when the material is waste. For imports into England under notification controls, the exporter applies to the dispatch country's competent authority for consent; shipment can begin after consent from the Environment Agency and the other authorities involved. For a China shipment, ask your customs broker to confirm waste status and the applicable procedure before dispatch.
Confirm the commodity code using the heat chemistry, manufacturing process and supplied condition. See the wider cold-heading steel wire guide. For the carbon border adjustment topic discussed in the published alloy-wire guide, ask HMRC or your customs broker to confirm whether this heading is covered by the UK carbon border adjustment mechanism from 1 January 2027. Ask the mill for emissions data and consult the UK carbon border adjustment guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boron-alloy cold-heading wire, drawn | 7229 90 90 00 | 0% | None |
Boron chemistry, annealing and heading performance
Specify the steel grade and full heat chemistry, including boron, carbon, manganese, aluminium, titanium and nitrogen. Agree diameter, ovality, tensile strength or hardness, annealing condition, surface defect acceptance and decarburisation checks. State whether the wire is supplied drawn, spheroidising annealed, lightly redrawn, or phosphated and lubricated. Match the condition to your heading equipment and subsequent heat treatment.
Ask for heat-linked chemistry and mechanical results, annealing records and samples for a heading trial. Agree how to assess spheroidisation and surface seams. Where hardening response matters, trial the formed part through your intended heat treatment before approving bulk supply.
For sales in Great Britain, review UK REACH obligations for the wire and any surface treatment: it applies to individual substances on their own, in mixtures or in articles. Request composition and treatment information for that review.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 20 tonnes of annealed boron-alloy cold-heading wire in coils under 7229 90 90 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 coil tags, heat numbers and delivered weights to the packing list and mill results; retain identification when coils are split.
Dimensions and surface: measure diameter and ovality across sampled coils; examine seams, scratches, rust and damaged coil ends.
Condition and forming: compare hardness or tensile results with the order; check annealing structure where agreed and run a heading trial for cracking and feeding.
Packing: check moisture protection, coil restraint and lifting arrangements on arrival; record damaged wrapping and wet coils before storage. Use the quality inspection guide to brief the inspection.
Working out your own order? Send us the product on WhatsApp and we reply the same working day: WhatsApp us
What goes wrong
A boron label does not establish heading performance. Inconsistent annealing can cause splitting, surface seams can open during upsetting, and excessive decarburisation can undermine the finished part's surface properties. Mixed heats make failures difficult to trace. Approve the chemistry, supplied condition and forming trial together.
Patchy lubricant can cause sticking and die wear; tangled coils interrupt feeding; damp packing leaves rust beneath apparently intact wrapping. Photograph arrival damage, isolate suspect heats and compare the failed material with retained samples before agreeing corrective action.
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 boron cold-heading wire from China?
The supplied tariff record shows 0% for 7229 90 90 00, with no trade remedies or steel measure listed. Confirm that the wire's chemistry and supplied condition fit this line.
Does boron cold-heading wire need spheroidising annealing?
Agree the supplied condition with your forming team. Ask for annealing evidence and run a heading trial; the grade name alone does not demonstrate that the wire will form without splitting.
What documents should accompany boron-alloy wire?
Request heat-linked chemistry, mechanical results, supplied-condition records and a packing list identifying the coils. Include boron and the elements relevant to the agreed grade and heat treatment.
Do the tariff waste controls apply to new steel wire?
Waste shipment controls apply only if the material is waste. Ask your broker to confirm the status of the actual consignment, especially if buying rejected coils or material described as scrap.