Sourcing cast iron trench gratings from China
Cast iron trench drainage gratings from China carry 0% ordinary UK duty. Channel gratings meeting the EN 1433 exclusion have no cast iron anti-dumping duty; ground-system gratings outside it can carry 38.10% residual duty. Confirm the channel application and product evidence before ordering. Cambridge China Bridge sources cast iron trench drainage gratings.
Channel gratings and the anti-dumping boundary
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 19 October 2026, heading 7325 covers other cast articles of iron or steel. The channel-grating lines distinguish non-malleable cast iron from other cast iron. Both carry 0% ordinary duty for goods from China, with no trade remedy, suspension or import control recorded in the supplied tariff snapshot.
The anti-dumping exclusion covers channel gratings and cast tops subject to EN 1433, fitted to polymer, plastic, galvanised steel or concrete channels allowing surface water into the channel. A drainage description alone does not establish that exclusion. The ground-system comparison rows carry 38.10% residual anti-dumping duty. See the wider castings guide.
Give your broker the iron specification, drawings, intended channel material and supporting test documents. Confirm the full code using finding your commodity code. The comparison rows show the classification boundary, rather than alternative codes to choose for the same product.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-malleable cast iron channel gratings and cast tops | 7325 10 00 10 | 0% | None |
| Other cast iron channel gratings and cast tops | 7325 99 10 31 | 0% | None |
| Grey iron ground-system gratings: classification boundary | 7325 10 00 31 | 0% | 38.10% residual anti-dumping |
| Ductile iron ground-system gratings: classification boundary | 7325 99 10 60 | 0% | 38.10% residual anti-dumping |
Specify the grating and its channel together
Specify grey or ductile iron, the material grade, grating length and width, bearing depth, slot pattern, coating and locking arrangement. Identify the exact channel profile and its material. Agree the intended pedestrian or vehicle use and the load performance to be demonstrated on the proposed assembly.
Ask for material certificates and test reports identifying the grating and channel configuration. For construction products supplied in Great Britain, legitimately CE-marked products can continue to be supplied without an additional UK marking. Importers must not supply products they have reason to believe fail the applicable requirements. Agree the conformity documents and marking route before production.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 500 cast iron trench drainage gratings; illustrative FOB and freight values under 7325 99 10 31, 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: match batch certificates to the ordered iron grade; check sampled castings for cracks, porosity and shrinkage defects.
Fit: seat samples in the intended channel; check bearing contact, rocking, end alignment and locking engagement.
Load evidence: match reports to the supplied assembly and ordered use; agree a witnessed production-sample test rather than relying on a cast-in class marking.
Finish and arrival: check slot edges, coating coverage, markings and packing damage; record defects against the drawing through quality 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 grating can match the overall width but have the wrong bearing profile, leaving it rocking or inadequately supported. Coating can hide casting defects, and substituted grey iron may not deliver the performance ordered for ductile iron. Approve a sample fitted to the actual channel before accepting production.
A supplier may present a report for a different channel assembly or call a ground-system grating a trench grating without establishing the exclusion. Resolve discrepancies in the drawings, reports and customs description before shipment.
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 Chinese trench gratings?
The channel-grating lines carry 0% ordinary duty and no anti-dumping duty in the supplied snapshot. Ground-system gratings outside the exclusion can carry 38.10% residual anti-dumping duty.
Are all cast iron drainage gratings exempt from anti-dumping duty?
No. The exclusion specifies EN 1433 channel gratings and cast tops fitted to polymer, plastic, galvanised steel or concrete channels allowing surface water into the channel.
Should I order grey iron or ductile iron trench gratings?
Specify the grade and intended use with the project designer. Ask for material certificates and load evidence for the proposed grating and channel assembly.
Does a CE-marked grating also need UKCA marking in Great Britain?
Government guidance says legitimately CE-marked construction products can continue to be supplied in Great Britain without an additional UK marking. Check that the evidence matches the product supplied.