Sourcing ceramic hip tiles from China

Ceramic hip tile duty and controls

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 6905 covers ceramic roofing tiles and other ceramic constructional goods. Ceramic hip tiles are roofing fittings used along the sloping junction between roof faces. The table shows product variants sharing the roofing-tile line, rather than separate tariff subdivisions. See the ceramic ridge tiles guide for the wider heading.

Goods from China carry 0% duty on both listed lines. No anti-dumping duty, countervailing duty or suspension is recorded. The tariff attaches an import control for waste, and also lists waste export controls and a cultural-object export licence. Those export entries concern export movements. Ask your customs broker to confirm which listed controls apply to the actual shipment.

For waste shipped to England under notification controls, shipment requires consent from the Environment Agency and the other competent authorities involved. Confirm the applicable waste procedure for goods dispatched from China before shipping. For finished hip tiles, confirm the commodity code using the material, drawings and intended use.

Specify the hip profile and roof connection

Specify the ceramic body, curved or angular profile, cross-section, length, cover length, overlap, fixing holes and surface finish. Give the factory drawings showing the roof slopes and hip junction. Identify the roof tiles, hip ends and junction pieces that must fit together. Approve a sample assembly using the intended fixing system.

Confirm with the relevant construction-products authority whether BS EN 1304 applies to the supplied clay roofing tiles and fittings. Ask for the manufacturer's declaration of performance and test reports for the exact hip tile and firing supplied. Check frost resistance, impermeability and strength evidence. CE marking remains available for construction products placed on the Great Britain market.

Agree colour against an approved sample in daylight, including how the hip tiles match the adjoining roof tiles. Ask the factory to identify firing batches and keep matching components together. Specify separators, edge protection and pallet restraint so projecting edges cannot rub or take the load during transport.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: An illustrative container order of ceramic hip tiles under 6905 10 00 00, invoiced at £14,000 free on board, with £4,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £18,500. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £18,500, so it is £3,700. 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

Fit: measure the cross-section, cover length and fixing-hole positions against the drawing. Assemble sampled hip tiles with the intended roof tiles and fittings; check seating and overlap.

Performance: match the declaration and frost, water and strength reports to the supplied product. Check that the product marking and batch identification agree with the documents.

Surface: compare pallets with the approved colour sample in daylight. Check for cracks, chipped ends, glaze damage and distortion that prevents the tiles seating.

Arrival: photograph pallet condition before unpacking. Check separators, restraints and broken pieces, and record defects by firing batch. Use the quality inspection guide to organise the checks.

What goes wrong

A hip tile can look suitable in a catalogue but fail to seat on the actual roof junction. The wrong angle or overlap leaves gaps; misplaced holes prevent the agreed fixing arrangement. Sample the complete assembly before approving production, rather than approving a loose tile alone.

Frost damage, mixed firing colours and chipped ends can make a shipment unusable despite correct dimensions. Obtain product-specific performance evidence, compare colour across pallets and inspect packing before loading. On arrival, separate damaged stock and preserve photographs and batch records for the supplier discussion.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For own-brand ranges, see sourcing for brands.