Sourcing ceramic ridge tiles from China

Zero duty on ceramic ridge tiles

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 6905 covers roofing tiles and other ceramic constructional goods. Ceramic ridge tiles fall within the roofing tiles line, 6905 10 00 00, carrying 0% duty for goods from China. No anti-dumping or countervailing measures or suspensions are recorded. The table shows buying variants within that same tariff line.

The tariff attaches an import waste control, alongside export waste and cultural-object export licence entries. Confirm their relevance with your customs broker, particularly for reclaimed or discarded material. If goods from China are shipped as waste under notification controls, the exporter must apply to the competent authority in the country of dispatch for consent.

Confirm the material, intended use and commodity code before ordering. The clay roof tiles guide covers the wider roofing family. Allow for import VAT at 20% and use the duty and VAT guide when checking landed cost.

Specify the ridge profile and roof connection

Specify the cross-section, angle or radius, length, effective cover, overlap, fixing holes and end shape. Provide a drawing and an approved sample, together with the roof tile profile and intended ridge fixing system. Agree the surface finish and colour, and ask for matching ridge ends from the same firing.

Confirm with the relevant construction products authority whether BS EN 1304 applies to the clay roofing tiles and fittings and what declaration of performance is required. Ask for test reports for the exact ridge product and firing. Check with the roof designer whether BS 5534 applies to the laying and fixing, and confirm the proposed roof pitch and fixing details. Legitimately CE-marked construction products can continue to be supplied in Great Britain without an additional UKCA mark.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: An illustrative container order of ceramic ridge tiles for a roofing merchant 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 profile, length, overlap and fixing holes against the drawing, then assemble a ridge sample with the intended roof tiles and fixing components.

Performance: match frost resistance, impermeability and strength reports to the supplied ridge product, its declared performance and batch identity.

Colour and surface: compare samples across pallets in daylight with the approved sample, checking glaze coverage, cracks, chips and exposed edges.

Packing and arrival: check separation, cushioning and pallet restraint before loading. On arrival, record broken pieces and keep pallet and batch labels with the inspection record.

What goes wrong

A ridge can look correct in isolation but rock on the roof tiles, leave uneven overlaps or have holes that miss the fixing components. Mixed firings can produce a visible stripe along the roof, while weak packing breaks corners and ends.

Tiles intended for a milder climate can crack or spall after frost. Approve an assembled ridge sample and product-specific test evidence before production, then inspect colour and packing before dispatch. Use the quality inspection guide to set the inspection scope.

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.