Sourcing cobalt wire from China

Cobalt wire duty and classification

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 4 October 2026, heading 8105 covers cobalt metallurgy intermediates, cobalt and its articles, including waste and scrap. New cobalt wire falls within the other cobalt articles line, 8105 90 00 00, subject to confirmation for the actual material. The table shows wire supply forms sharing that line, not separate tariff subdivisions.

The supplied record gives 0% duty for goods from China throughout the heading and lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duties or suspensions. No import control is listed against the other cobalt articles line. The waste and scrap line, 8105 30 00 00, carries import and export waste controls. For scrap wire from China, confirm the applicable requirements with your customs broker; notified waste needs consent from the competent authorities before shipment.

Give your broker the composition, manufacturing form, intended use and confirmation that the shipment is new material rather than waste. Confirm the commodity code before shipment. For wider cobalt products, see cobalt alloy rods. The duty and VAT guide explains the calculation.

Specify chemistry, temper and winding

State whether you need pure cobalt wire or a named cobalt alloy. Agree cobalt assay and impurity limits, diameter and tolerance, roundness, temper, surface condition and supplied length or net weight. For spooled wire, specify spool dimensions, winding direction, permitted joints and compatibility with your feeding equipment. Ask for a heat-linked certificate of analysis and retain an approved sample.

UK REACH generally applies to substances on their own, in mixtures and in articles. HSE cautions that article status is not always straightforward. Before ordering, ask your compliance adviser to assess the wire for its intended use, including whether it will be shaped into a component or melted. Agree which supporting chemical information the supplier will provide.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 200 kg of cobalt wire, illustrative order under 8105 90 00 00, invoiced at £12,500 free on board, with £800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £13,300. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £13,300, so it is £2,660. 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 or spool identification to the heat certificate and independently check cobalt assay and agreed impurities.

Dimensions: measure diameter and roundness along sampled wire, and check straight lengths against the ordered length and straightness.

Surface and temper: inspect for cracks, seams, scratches and residue; check agreed mechanical properties and trial the wire in your process.

Winding and packing: check for crossed turns, hidden joints and damaged spool flanges; confirm net weight, secured ends and protection against moisture. Include these checks in your inspection brief.

What goes wrong

A chemistry certificate alone does not establish that wire will feed or form correctly. Diameter variation, unsuitable temper, surface cracks and tangled winding can interrupt processing. A certificate belonging to another heat can also conceal a material mismatch.

Agree acceptance checks before production and trial a sample using your own equipment. Keep heat identity attached to each spool or bundle, and hold suspect material apart while the supplier and laboratory investigate.

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.