Sourcing corrugated aluminium roofs from China

UK duty on corrugated aluminium roofing sheets

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 7606 covers aluminium plates, sheets and strip exceeding 0.2 mm thick. This guide concerns corrugated roofing sheet without a composite core. The table gives candidate rectangular sheet lines by alloy and coating, rather than a universal roofing code.

The selected lines carry 6% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control on these lines. Suspensions elsewhere in the heading concern specified products or uses; do not assume roofing sheet qualifies. Import VAT is normally 20%; see import duty and VAT.

Confirm the commodity code using the sheet outline, alloy, thickness, coating, backing and extent of fabrication. Send the broker the profile drawing and photographs before shipment. For the wider product family, see aluminium sheet and composite panels. For embossed sheet sourcing, see our embossed aluminium sheet guide.

Corrugation, cover width and roof performance

Specify alloy and temper, base-metal thickness excluding coating, corrugation pitch and depth, overall width, effective cover width and cut length. Include the side-lap drawing, roof pitch, support spacing, fixing arrangement and compatible flashings. Ask the roof designer to confirm the proposed sheet and fixing system against the project loads.

State the coating chemistry, colour master, finish on each face and exposure conditions. Ask for coating adhesion and weathering evidence for the actual finish. Agree protective interleaving, bundle support and lifting arrangements so the corrugations reach site without crushed edges. For anodised finishes, see our anodised aluminium sheet sourcing guide.

CE marking remains accepted for construction products placed on the Great Britain market. Before ordering, ask for the applicable product standard or technical assessment, declaration of performance and supporting reports for the exact profile and intended roofing use. Have the documents reviewed through testing and certification, rather than accepting a certificate for a different sheet.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: An illustrative batch of coated corrugated aluminium roofing sheets, not a quotation under 7606 12 50 88, invoiced at £36,000 free on board, with £4,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £40,000. Duty at 6% is £2,400. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £42,400, so it is £8,480. Import taxes total £10,880; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £2,400 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Metal: measure base-metal thickness on samples from the shipment and compare the mill certificate, alloy and temper with the purchase specification.

Profile: check pitch, depth, cut length and effective cover width; lay adjacent sheets together to confirm side-lap fit and alignment with the agreed flashings.

Finish: compare colour with the approved master, inspect bends for coating cracks and check coating thickness and adhesion against the agreed acceptance criteria.

Arrival: inspect bundles for trapped moisture, staining, scratches and crushed corrugations; match bundle labels and product documents to the delivered profile at inspection.

What goes wrong

A thinner sheet can look correct but distort during handling or fixing. The wrong corrugation pitch prevents sheets and flashings from mating, while quoting overall width as cover width leaves the roof short of material. Confirm an assembled sample and the usable coverage before approving production.

Coatings can crack at formed bends, and trapped moisture can stain tightly nested sheets. A performance report for another profile does not establish the performance of the delivered roof system. Hold affected bundles for assessment, record the defects and agree corrective action before installation.

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.