Sourcing cold-drawn aluminium bars from China
Cold-drawn aluminium round bars from China normally carry 6% UK duty; qualifying alloy bars can have a 0% suspension. Cold drawing does not itself establish exemption from the aluminium anti-dumping measure. Check the goods description and producer before ordering. Cambridge China Bridge sources cold-drawn aluminium round bars.
Duty on cold-drawn aluminium round bars
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 21 October 2026, heading 7604 covers aluminium bars, rods and profiles. For solid round bars, the supplied lines distinguish non-alloy aluminium from aluminium alloys. The table repeats the alloy bars code to show aluminium-lithium bars separately; these are not separate commodity codes. See aluminium extrusions for the wider heading.
Ordinary duty on the relevant Chinese-origin lines is 6%. The alloy bars line lists a 0% suspension for specified goods, including aluminium-lithium bars; its supplied composition footnote is truncated, so confirm the complete conditions before claiming relief. The supplied anti-dumping fields are blank, which does not establish exemption. The published measure can cover goods made by processes other than extrusion. No import controls are listed in the supplied snapshot.
Confirm alloy composition, solid cross-section, manufacturing route and any further machining with your broker using finding your commodity code. For covered goods, the reference guide records anti-dumping rates up to 35.1%; confirm producer-specific treatment and any invoice conditions with your customs broker. Ask HMRC or your customs broker whether these aluminium lines fall within the UK carbon border adjustment mechanism and when any obligations apply. Ask the mill for emissions data alongside material certificates.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unassembled non-alloy aluminium round bars, aluminium content not above 99.3% | 7604 10 10 11 | 6% | See the tariff |
| Other non-alloy aluminium round bars and rods | 7604 10 10 90 | 6% | See the tariff |
| Cold-drawn aluminium alloy round bars and rods | 7604 29 10 00 | 6% | See the tariff |
Diameter, temper and machining allowance
Specify solid cold-drawn round bar, alloy, final temper, diameter and its tolerance, cut length, straightness and surface condition. State whether the stock will be turned, drilled or used at its supplied diameter. Agree the machining allowance and whether grinding or polishing is included.
Ask the factory to describe the production route and identify the mill supplying the starting material. Agree acceptance values for mechanical properties and a batch certificate linked to the bundle labels. Approve a sample through your intended machining operation before releasing production.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative pallet of cold-drawn aluminium alloy round bars for a machining business; ordinary duty before any applicable trade remedy or suspension under 7604 29 10 00, invoiced at £9,702 free on board, with £3,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £12,702. Duty at 6% is £762.12. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £13,464.12, so it is £2,692.82. Import taxes total £3,454.94; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £762.12 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Dimensions: measure diameter along sampled bars and around each cross-section; check ovality, length and straightness against the purchase drawing.
Material: match alloy, temper and batch identity to the mill certificate; compare composition and mechanical test results with the agreed specification.
Surface: inspect for drawing scores, cracks, embedded particles and handling dents; check whether defects remain within the agreed machining allowance.
Arrival: check bundle labels, quantities, end protection and separation between bars; record bent lengths and damaged wrapping during inspection.
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What goes wrong
A bar can meet nominal diameter while ovality or bow prevents it feeding through a machine. Deep drawing scores remain after turning, mixed batches lose traceability, and a different temper changes machining behaviour. Use agreed measurements and batch records to investigate failures.
A supplier may describe the goods as cold-drawn and assume the extrusion duty is irrelevant. The official measure is not limited to a single manufacturing process. Settle its scope and producer treatment before comparing quotes, and use the import duty and VAT guide when building the landed cost.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on aluminium round bars from China?
The supplied tariff lines show 6% ordinary duty. Specified alloy bars can qualify for a 0% suspension. Check anti-dumping separately because the supplied fields are blank.
Does cold drawing avoid aluminium anti-dumping duty?
Do not assume so. The official notice says covered goods can be produced by processes other than extrusion. Ask your broker to check the goods description, exclusions and producer.
What should I specify for cold-drawn aluminium round bars?
Alloy, final temper, diameter tolerance, ovality, straightness, cut length, surface condition and machining allowance. Require batch certificates linked to bundle labels.
How do I check aluminium round bars on arrival?
Check diameter at different positions, ovality, bow, length and surface damage. Match bundle labels to certificates and retain the batch identity when splitting stock.