Sourcing cast-iron bench ends from China
The relevant heading 7325 cast-iron lines carry 0% UK duty from China, with no trade remedy shown for these lines. Confirm whether your bench ends belong here or need classification as seat parts. Consumer products supplied in Great Britain must be safe. Cambridge China Bridge sources cast-iron bench ends.
Zero duty, subject to confirmed classification
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 7325 covers other cast articles of iron or steel. The table shows bench-end variants against candidate lines, repeating each code for plain and armrest designs. It is not a classification decision. Send drawings and assembly photographs to your customs broker and ask whether the ends should instead be classified as seat parts.
The candidate lines 7325 10 00 99 and 7325 99 10 90 carry 0% ordinary duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff facts show no anti-dumping duty, countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control on these lines. Elsewhere in this heading, specified grey and ductile iron ground-system covers carry 38.10% residual anti-dumping duty. Those descriptions concern ground-system access, rather than seating.
Confirm the iron type and product function before using a code through finding your commodity code. For the wider casting family, see cast-iron bollards. The duty and VAT guide explains the import calculation.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other non-malleable cast iron: plain bench-end candidates | 7325 10 00 99 | 0% | None |
| Other cast iron articles: plain bench-end candidates | 7325 99 10 90 | 0% | None |
Specify the casting and slat interfaces
Specify grey or ductile iron, the agreed material grade, casting profile, armrest shape and matching left and right ends. Put slat-hole positions, fixing sizes, seat and back angles, foot contact surfaces and anchoring holes on the drawing. For replacement ends, approve a trial assembly with the actual slats and fixings before production.
Agree surface preparation, primer, finish colour, coating coverage and how holes are kept clear. Ask for material certificates and test an assembled bench against your intended loading and stability criteria. Consumer products supplied in Great Britain must be safe. Include assembly and anchoring instructions in your specification, and consider testing and certification support for the finished bench.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative pallet order of matched cast-iron bench-end pairs, conditional on classification under 7325 10 00 99, invoiced at £4,000 free on board, with £500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £4,500. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £4,500, so it is £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
Pairing and fit: assemble sampled left and right ends with the intended slats and fixings. Check hole alignment, back angle and whether the feet sit flat.
Casting soundness: inspect armrest roots, slat supports and fixing bosses for cracks, exposed cavities and sharp flash. Compare material certificates and sample weights with the approved specification.
Finish: check coating around feet, recesses and bolt holes, and inspect for exposed metal, peeling or rust. Measure coating against the agreed specification.
Arrival condition: check for chipped feet, broken armrests, rubbing damage and missing fixings before assembly. Record defects by shipment batch using the inspection guide.
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What goes wrong
A decorative sample can hide an assembly problem. Misaligned holes force slats into place, uneven feet make the bench rock, and an incorrect back angle changes the seating position. Approve the assembled geometry as well as the appearance, and keep a signed drawing and sample.
Coating can conceal cracks or poorly finished casting edges. Unsupported armrests and feet can also break during transport. Agree packing that separates castings and supports projecting features, then photograph the unpacked ends and inspect them before fitting timber.
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 cast-iron bench ends from China?
The candidate lines 7325 10 00 99 and 7325 99 10 90 carry 0% ordinary duty, with no trade remedy shown. Confirm the classification before using either code.
Can I use an old bench end as the factory sample?
Yes, but record wear, damage and any changes you want. Approve drawings and a trial assembly with your actual slats and fixings rather than accepting a visual copy alone.
Should I order grey iron or ductile iron bench ends?
Choose against the design and intended use. State the material grade, require supporting certificates and assess the assembled bench rather than treating the materials as interchangeable.
What should I check when the bench ends arrive?
Check matched pairs, cracks, chipped feet, sharp edges, coating damage and fixing-hole alignment. Assemble a sample with the intended slats and check that it sits flat.