Sourcing cobalt alloy sheet from China

Cobalt alloy sheet: zero duty

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 4 October 2026, heading 8105 covers cobalt mattes, metallurgical intermediates, cobalt and its articles, including waste and scrap. Cobalt alloy sheet belongs within the other-articles line when its composition and supplied form support that classification. The table shows buying forms under the same commodity code, rather than separate tariff subdivisions.

The supplied facts show 0% duty for goods from China under 8105 90 00 00, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control. The separate scrap line, 8105 30 00 00, carries waste import and export controls. Waste shipment controls apply when the material is waste; for scrap from China, confirm the applicable procedure with your customs broker before shipment.

Give your broker the complete alloy composition, rolling condition, dimensions and intended use to confirm the commodity code. For the wider heading, see cobalt alloy wear-resistant rods.

Specify chemistry, rolling condition and flatness

Order against a named alloy specification and revision, with the required cobalt, chromium, nickel, tungsten, molybdenum and carbon limits as applicable. State thickness, width, length, tolerances, flatness, surface finish, edge condition and whether the sheet is supplied rolled or annealed. Agree hardness and mechanical test results for the intended forming or machining process.

Ask for a mill certificate identifying the producing mill, heat number, chemistry and supplied heat-treatment condition. Agree how heat identity survives cutting into blanks. UK REACH generally covers substances in mixtures and articles, so check the obligations for the actual supplied material before importing or selling it. Use factory verification to check the supplier's rolling and heat-treatment capability.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 2 tonnes of cobalt alloy sheet under 8105 90 00 00, invoiced at £60,000 free on board, with £2,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £62,500. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £62,500, so it is £12,500. 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 sheet and bundle heat markings to the mill certificate; independently check chemistry against the ordered alloy.

Dimensions: measure thickness across the sheet, check width and length, and assess flatness against the agreed tolerance.

Condition: check hardness and agreed mechanical results; inspect for cracks, scale, scratches, edge damage and surface contamination.

Packing: check support against bending, protection between sheets and secure bundles; record arrival damage before unpacking. Set the sampling scope in your inspection brief.

What goes wrong

Similar-looking sheet can have different chemistry or heat treatment. A harder supplied condition can upset forming, while thickness variation, waviness or deep grinding marks can consume the machining allowance. Copied certificates and mixed heats break traceability. Agree acceptance criteria and test a representative sample before committing to the production batch.

Plan the receiving workshop's cutting and grinding process alongside the purchase. HSE guidance says hazardous exposure must be adequately controlled when it cannot be prevented. Ask the workshop to assess the process before working the sheet, and keep usable sheet separate from material bought as scrap.

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.