Ductile iron and cast iron pipes from China
Cast iron tubes and pipes from China, including ductile iron pressure pipes for water and sewerage and grey cast iron soil and drainage pipes, pay 0% UK duty, with no anti-dumping duty and no steel measure. Water pipes are specified to BS EN 545, sewer pipes to BS EN 598 and soil pipes to BS EN 877, and linings touching public drinking water need approval.
Ductile iron water and sewer pipes and cast iron soil pipes from China pay 0% UK duty, with no steel measure. BS EN 545, BS EN 598, BS EN 877 and Regulation 31.
0% duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 27 September 2026, tubes, pipes and hollow profiles of cast iron, heading 7303, carried 0% on goods from China on every line: ductile iron pressure pipes (coated or bare) and other cast iron pipes. No line carried an anti-dumping measure, and none carried the steel safeguard measure.
Cast iron fittings are under heading 7307 (see our steel pipe fittings guide), and manhole covers and gratings under 7325 (see our cast iron covers guide).
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ductile iron pressure pipes, coated (not bare) | 7303 00 10 10 | 0% | None |
| Ductile iron pressure pipes, bare | 7303 00 10 20 | 0% | None |
| Other cast iron pressure pipes | 7303 00 10 90 | 0% | None |
| Other ductile iron pipes, coated | 7303 00 90 10 | 0% | None |
| Other cast iron pipes and hollow profiles (such as soil pipes) | 7303 00 90 90 | 0% | None |
Standards and drinking water approval
Ductile iron pipes for water are specified to BS EN 545, for sewerage to BS EN 598, and cast iron soil and drainage pipes to BS EN 877. Products used in public water supply in England and Wales must be approved under regulation 31 of the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2016, so cement linings, coatings and gaskets need evidence that they are approved for contact with drinking water.
Specifying pipes
Specify nominal diameter, pressure class, length, joint type (push-fit, restrained, flanged), internal lining (cement mortar, epoxy), external coating (zinc with bitumen or epoxy), gaskets, marking, and bundling and loading for heavy pipes.
Worked duty example
Take a hypothetical order of 600 tonnes of cement-lined ductile iron water pipe, entered under 7303 00 10 10: £420,000 free on board plus £38,000 of freight and insurance gives a customs value of £458,000. Ductile iron pipe carry no duty, so import VAT of 20% on £458,000, £91,600, is the only tax. A VAT-registered importer normally reclaims it, so the border adds no lasting cost. Step by step: UK import duty and VAT.
Inspection checklist
Dimensions and class: measure diameter, wall thickness and spigot and socket dimensions, and check the pressure class marking on each pipe.
Coatings and linings: check zinc and coating thickness, and cement lining thickness and cracks, against the standard.
Testing and documents: check hydrostatic test records, the regulation 31 approval for linings and gaskets, and that pipes are bundled with socket protection.
What goes wrong
Pipe orders fail on class, coatings and approvals. Walls are thinner than the pressure class, zinc coating is light, cement linings crack in handling, gaskets are not approved for drinking water, and sockets are damaged in loading.
Witness hydrostatic tests, measure coatings, and check approvals before shipment. See our quality inspection guide.
Cambridge China Bridge sources ductile iron and cast iron pipes for UK contractors and merchants, checking the foundry's test records first. See factory verification.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on ductile iron pipe from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 27 September 2026, ductile iron pressure pipes (7303 00 10) carried 0% from China, with no anti-dumping or steel measure.
Which standard covers ductile iron water pipe?
BS EN 545, with BS EN 598 for sewerage and BS EN 877 for cast iron soil pipes.
Do linings need drinking water approval?
For public water supply in England and Wales, products need approval under regulation 31 of the 2016 water quality regulations.
Are cast iron fittings the same code?
No. Cast iron fittings are under heading 7307.