Sourcing ceramic swimming pool tiles from China
Ceramic swimming pool tiles from China carry 4% UK duty across the relevant lines, plus anti-dumping duty with a residual rate of 69.70%. Obtain the manufacturer's declaration of performance and product marking, then check evidence for the intended pool use. Cambridge China Bridge sources ceramic swimming pool tiles.
4% duty plus anti-dumping duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 26 October 2026, heading 6907 covers ceramic tiles, mosaics and finishing ceramics. The relevant swimming pool tile lines all carry 4% duty for goods from China, plus residual anti-dumping duty of 69.70%. No suspensions or countervailing duties are recorded in the supplied tariff facts.
The wider published guide records lower anti-dumping rates for named exporters with the required invoice, and an exclusion for qualifying large-format tiles. Confirm the exporter, additional code and product dimensions before costing the order. Pool use alone does not identify the line: distinguish tiles by water absorption, mosaics and finishing pieces. See the wider ceramic tile guide and confirm your commodity code.
The tariff attaches an import waste control. If a China shipment is waste subject to notification controls, the exporter must apply for consent to the competent authority in China. Confirm the applicable waste requirements with your customs broker before shipment. The facts also record waste export controls and a cultural-object export licence measure; ask your broker about these if re-exporting.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ceramic tiles with water absorption not exceeding 0.5% | 6907 21 00 00 | 4% | 69.70% residual anti-dumping |
| Ceramic tiles with water absorption over 0.5% but not exceeding 10% | 6907 22 00 00 | 4% | 69.70% residual anti-dumping |
| Ceramic mosaic cubes and similar pieces for pool lining | 6907 30 00 00 | 4% | 69.70% residual anti-dumping |
| Ceramic finishing pieces for pool edges and corners | 6907 40 00 00 | 4% | 69.70% residual anti-dumping |
Specify the pool lining and exposed surfaces
State whether tiles line the submerged basin, waterline, steps or surrounding deck. Specify ceramic body, water absorption, dimensions, thickness, glaze, shade range and matching edge pieces. For mosaics, agree sheet alignment, joint spacing, backing material and compatibility with the proposed adhesive. Ask for evidence covering continuous immersion, pool treatment chemicals and cleaning products, rather than accepting a general bathroom-tile description.
Confirm with the relevant construction-products authority whether the ceramic tiles require the manufacturer's declaration of performance and product marking under construction product rules. CE marking continues to be available for the Great Britain market. Match the declared product to the tiles ordered. Agree wet slip testing for walked-on surfaces and frost testing for outdoor locations; approve an installation sample with the pool contractor.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative container order of ceramic pool mosaics for a pool contractor; include anti-dumping duty separately under 6907 30 00 00, invoiced at £20,000 free on board, with £3,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £23,000. Duty at 4% is £920. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £23,920, so it is £4,784. Import taxes total £5,704; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £920 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Surface and shade: compare samples from different cartons with the approved sample, dry and wet; check glaze defects, chips and sharp edges.
Dimensions and sheets: measure thickness and flatness, lay mosaic sheets together, and check that joints remain consistent across sheet boundaries.
Pool-use evidence: match absorption, chemical resistance, wet slip and any frost results to the ordered ceramic body and surface finish; inspect backing coverage and adhesion on samples.
Packing and arrival: check carton shade and calibre identifiers, separation of shaped pieces, corner protection and pallet stability; record cracked tiles and displaced mosaic pieces before installation. See our inspection guide.
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What goes wrong
Bathroom tiles are offered for permanent immersion without supporting evidence, mosaic backing interferes with adhesive contact, and poorly aligned sheets leave visible seams. Mixed firing batches create shade bands along the waterline, while damaged edge pieces can leave sharp surfaces. Resolve these points through agreed samples, installation trials and batch inspection.
Costing only the ordinary duty can miss the anti-dumping charge. Check the actual exporter and invoice before committing, and keep the tariff classification separate from the contractor's assessment of suitability for the pool.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on ceramic pool tiles from China?
The supplied tariff facts show 4% across the relevant lines, plus residual anti-dumping duty of 69.70%. No suspensions or countervailing duties are recorded.
Which commodity code covers ceramic pool mosaics?
Ceramic mosaic cubes and similar pieces fall under 6907 30 00 00. Confirm the actual goods description with your customs broker, particularly for shaped finishing pieces.
Can bathroom tiles be used inside a swimming pool?
Ask for evidence for continuous immersion and the intended pool chemicals. Agree the ceramic body, glaze, backing and adhesive system with the pool contractor before approving samples.
Do ceramic pool tiles need a declaration of performance?
Confirm with the relevant construction-products authority whether the ceramic tiles are covered by construction product rules requiring the manufacturer's declaration of performance and product marking. Check that the documents identify the product you are buying.