Sourcing chromium-vanadium wire from China

Duty and the other alloy steel wire line

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 7229 covers wire of other alloy steel. For chromium-vanadium spring wire, check the candidate code 7229 90 90 00 against the mill chemistry. The table shows buying forms within that candidate line, rather than separate tariff subdivisions. See the silicon-chromium spring wire guide for wider heading context.

The supplied tariff record shows 0% duty for goods from China, no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, no suspension and no steel measure on this line. It attaches import and export waste controls. Waste shipment controls apply only to material classed as waste. If importing scrap, discarded coils or material whose status is uncertain from China, ask your customs broker to confirm the applicable waste shipment requirements before dispatch.

Confirm the commodity code using the composition, wire form and supplied condition, rather than the supplier's product name alone. Import VAT is normally 20%; see UK import duty and VAT when budgeting the order.

Specify chemistry and spring-making condition

State the agreed grade and chemical composition, including carbon, chromium and vanadium. Specify diameter and tolerance, tensile strength range, surface finish, coil dimensions and winding. Say whether the wire is supplied annealed, cold-drawn or oil-tempered, and whether your spring maker will carry out further heat treatment. Agree the test methods and acceptance criteria before production.

Ask for heat-linked chemistry and mechanical test results, with coil labels that preserve traceability. For fatigue-sensitive springs, agree checks for surface seams, decarburisation and performance after forming and heat treatment. Trial the wire on your own spring-making equipment before accepting the production specification.

UK CBAM comes into effect on 1 January 2027. Use the published alloy wire guide as a starting point and confirm with HMRC or your customs broker whether this tariff line falls within its scope. Ask the mill about emissions data and review the UK CBAM guide before planning imports for that period.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 5 tonnes of chromium-vanadium spring steel wire in coils under 7229 90 90 00, invoiced at £6,000 free on board, with £2,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £8,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £8,000, so it is £1,600. 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

Identity: match coil labels and heat numbers to the order and mill results; check carbon, chromium and vanadium against the agreed grade.

Dimensions: measure diameter and ovality along sampled wire; check coil size and winding against the spring maker's handling equipment.

Surface and condition: inspect for rust, seams, scratches and coating damage; verify the agreed tensile and decarburisation results.

Packing and trial: check moisture protection, coil restraint and labels; run a forming trial and inspect the resulting springs against agreed criteria.

What goes wrong

A matching trade name can conceal different chemistry or heat treatment. Wire may form successfully but produce springs with inconsistent strength or fatigue performance. Mixed heats, surface seams and excessive decarburisation are reasons to investigate before releasing coils to production.

Poor winding can interrupt feeding, while damaged moisture protection allows rust during transport or storage. Keep suspect coils separate and retain their labels and samples. Use an agreed inspection plan to connect findings to the affected heat and coil.

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.