Sourcing cast iron bollards from China
Cast iron bollards from China carry 0% UK customs duty under the relevant other-cast-iron lines. Confirm the iron type and finished construction before declaring the code. For consumer-use products sold in Great Britain, general product safety rules require safe normal and foreseeable use. Cambridge China Bridge sources cast iron bollards.
Duty on cast iron bollards
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 7325 covers other cast articles of iron or steel. For cast iron bollards, the candidate lines are 7325 10 00 99 for other non-malleable cast iron articles and 7325 99 10 90 for other cast iron articles. The table shows mounting variants sharing those lines, rather than separate tariff classifications.
Both candidate lines carry 0% third-country duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff extract lists no anti-dumping duty, countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control on these lines. Elsewhere in this heading, specified grey and ductile iron covers for ground systems carry residual anti-dumping duty of 38.10 %. See the wider castings guide if the shipment includes covers or frames.
Give your customs broker the material specification, drawing and details of any separate core, socket or fittings. Confirm the finished product against finding your commodity code, rather than relying on the supplier's description. Budget for import VAT as well as freight; the duty and VAT guide explains the calculation.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grey cast iron bollards with an integral buried stem | 7325 10 00 99 | 0% | None |
| Ductile cast iron bollards with an integral buried stem | 7325 99 10 90 | 0% | None |
Specify the iron, mounting and intended use
State whether the bollard is grey or ductile cast iron, solid or hollow, and supplied as a complete casting or a decorative shell around a separate core. Agree overall height, installed height, wall thickness, base geometry, bolt-hole positions, buried stem or removable socket, cap attachment and drainage details on the drawing.
Specify surface preparation, coating system, colour and the areas to be coated, including recesses and the underside of the base. For claimed vehicle-impact performance, ask for a report covering the offered bollard, fixings and foundation arrangement. Agree that evidence before ordering; appearance and casting weight alone do not establish impact performance.
In Great Britain, general product safety rules apply to products intended for consumers or likely to be used by them under reasonably foreseeable conditions, and require safe normal and foreseeable use. Assess that scope for the intended sales channel. Solid wood pallets or crates used to import the bollards into Great Britain must meet the international phytosanitary standards for wood packaging.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 500 ductile cast iron bollards; illustrative order, not a quotation under 7325 99 10 90, invoiced at £30,000 free on board, with £4,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £34,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £34,000, so it is £6,800. 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 and soundness: compare batch material records with the ordered iron grade; inspect for cracks, cavities and repairs concealed by filler or paint.
Dimensions and mounting: measure height, base flatness, hole positions and accessible wall thickness; trial-fit the actual bolts, sockets and caps.
Coating and finish: compare colour and surface preparation with the approved sample; check coating thickness, adhesion, sharp edges and coverage inside recesses.
Arrival and assembly: check for cracked bases, chipped paint and missing fittings after unpacking; assemble sampled sets and record defects against the drawing. Use the inspection guide to prepare the inspection brief.
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What goes wrong
A visually similar casting can have thinner walls, the wrong iron grade or porosity beneath the coating. Distorted bases and misplaced holes prevent installation; loosely fitted caps rattle or detach. Agree measurable acceptance criteria and compare production samples with the approved drawing before shipment.
A decorative bollard can be offered with unsupported security claims, or with a test report for a different core and foundation. Match the report to the supplied assembly before accepting the claim. Protect bases and caps in transit, separate painted surfaces and record arrival damage before installation.
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 bollards from China?
The candidate lines 7325 10 00 99 and 7325 99 10 90 carry 0% customs duty. The supplied tariff extract lists no trade remedy on either line. Confirm the finished product's classification.
Should I order grey iron or ductile iron bollards?
Specify the material against the intended use and mounting design. Ask for batch material evidence, and avoid accepting a visually similar grey iron casting when ductile iron was ordered.
Are decorative cast iron bollards crash tested?
Do not assume so. Ask for a report identifying the offered bollard, any internal core, fixings and foundation. Compare that assembly with what the factory will supply.
What should I check when the bollards arrive?
Check bases and caps for cracks, coating for chips, mounting holes against the drawing and fittings for completeness. Trial-assemble sampled sets before releasing them for installation.