Sourcing concrete roof tiles from China

Zero duty on concrete roof tiles

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 16 October 2026, heading 6810 covers articles of cement, concrete or artificial stone, whether or not reinforced. Concrete roof tiles fall within the tiles and similar articles family; the table shows product variants sharing the same tariff line.

The supplied tariff data records 0% duty for goods from China across this heading, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duties, suspensions or attached import controls. Import VAT is normally 20%. The absence of a tariff control does not establish construction-product compliance.

Give your customs broker the material composition, photographs and descriptions of tiles and fittings to confirm the commodity code. Compare the separate clay roof tile guide when choosing between concrete and fired clay.

Tile profile, roof layout and performance

Specify the profile, overall dimensions, effective cover, headlap, batten gauge, hanging nibs, fixing holes and compatible clips. Ask the installer to approve the proposed roof pitch and fixing instructions. Include matching ridge, hip and verge pieces in the drawings, rather than assuming fittings from another range will fit.

Agree colour and surface finish against retained samples. Request water impermeability, breaking strength and frost-performance reports for the actual tile model. For a CE-marked product covered by a harmonised standard, the manufacturer must draw up a declaration of performance; CE marking remains accepted in Great Britain where the underlying requirements are met. Match the declaration and supporting reports to the supplied product before approving production.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative palletised order of concrete roof tiles for a roofing merchant under 6810 19 00 00, invoiced at £15,000 free on board, with £3,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £18,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £18,000, so it is £3,600. 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

Fit: assemble sampled tiles and fittings together; measure cover dimensions, nibs and fixing-hole positions against the approved drawings.

Condition: inspect faces, edges, interlocks and hanging nibs for cracks, chips and distortion; compare colour and coating with retained samples.

Documents: match the tile model, intended use and declared performance to the agreed documentation. Include these checks in the inspection plan.

Packing and arrival: check pallet support, separators, strapping and edge protection before dispatch; photograph damaged wrapping and broken tiles before unloading or mixing batches.

What goes wrong

A similar-looking profile can have incompatible interlocks, cover dimensions or fixing points. Missing matching fittings leave a roof package incomplete. Warped tiles sit unevenly, colour differences show across roof slopes, and chipped nibs prevent reliable seating on battens.

Weak packing allows tiles to rub or break during handling. A report for another tile model does not establish the performance of the order. Retain approved samples, require traceable batch labels and resolve document mismatches before shipment.

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.