Sourcing duplex round bars from China
Duplex stainless steel round bars from China can attract 0% to 50% UK duty. Hot-rolled and cold-finished round bars show 50% in the supplied tariff snapshot, with a 0% quota route described in the wider guide. Classify by processing, diameter and nickel content, then confirm quota access. Cambridge China Bridge sources duplex stainless steel round bars.
Duty depends on processing and nickel content
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, heading 7222 covers other stainless steel bars and rods, angles, shapes and sections. This guide concerns duplex round bars. The table separates hot-rolled, cold-finished and forged products; the word duplex alone does not identify the commodity line.
The supplied facts show 50% for the hot-rolled and cold-finished round-bar lines and forged bars containing 2.5% or more nickel. Forged bars below 2.5% nickel show 0%. No additional anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control is recorded. The wider guide describes 0% within the steel quota and 50% outside it for covered lines. Confirm quota eligibility and availability with your broker before shipment.
Confirm the commodity code using the mill chemistry, diameter and processing history. See the wider stainless bars guide and duty and VAT guide. Ask your customs broker to confirm whether and when these bars fall within the UK carbon border adjustment mechanism; review the UK carbon border guide when planning imports.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hot-rolled round bar, diameter 80 mm or more, nickel 2.5% or more | 7222 11 11 00 | 50% | None |
| Hot-rolled round bar, diameter below 80 mm, nickel 2.5% or more | 7222 11 81 00 | 50% | None |
| Cold-finished round bar, diameter 80 mm or more, nickel 2.5% or more | 7222 20 11 00 | 50% | None |
| Cold-finished round bar, diameter 25 mm to below 80 mm, nickel 2.5% or more | 7222 20 21 00 | 50% | None |
| Cold-finished round bar, diameter below 25 mm, nickel 2.5% or more | 7222 20 31 00 | 50% | None |
| Forged round bar, nickel 2.5% or more | 7222 30 51 00 | 50% | None |
| Forged round bar, nickel below 2.5% | 7222 30 91 00 | 0% | None |
Specify duplex grade, heat treatment and machining allowance
Specify the exact duplex grade and purchasing standard rather than accepting a description such as stainless round bar. Record chromium, nickel, molybdenum and nitrogen requirements, delivery condition, heat treatment, diameter tolerance, straightness, cut length and machining allowance. Agree whether the surface is hot-rolled, peeled, ground or polished.
Ask for a mill inspection certificate with heat number, chemistry, heat treatment condition and mechanical results. Agree any phase-balance, corrosion, impact or ultrasonic testing with your engineer before ordering, including sampling and acceptance criteria. Check the mill can supply that condition through factory verification.
For onward supply, check the declared composition against the UK REACH Candidate List. Inclusion of a substance on that list brings supplier obligations. Keep the supplier's composition information with the heat records rather than relying on a general compliance statement.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 20 tonnes of cold-finished duplex stainless steel round bars, diameter below 25 mm, nickel 2.5% or more; FOB value and freight are illustrative, not a quotation. under 7222 20 31 00, invoiced at £56,000 free on board, with £3,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £59,000. Duty at 50% is £29,500. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £88,500, so it is £17,700. Import taxes total £47,200; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £29,500 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Traceability: match each bundle and bar marking to the certificate heat number; retain that identity when bars are cut.
Material and condition: compare chemistry and mechanical results with the agreed duplex specification, and review heat treatment and any agreed phase-balance or corrosion reports.
Dimensions: measure diameter at several positions and check ovality, straightness, length and machining allowance against the order.
Surface and packing: check seams, laps, scratches and end damage; confirm bundles are separated and protected against movement. Use the quality inspection guide to prepare the inspection brief.
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What goes wrong
An order described only as duplex can arrive with a different grade, undocumented heat treatment or certificates that do not match the bars. Chemistry results alone leave agreed heat treatment and microstructure checks unresolved. Missing machining allowance, bent bars and surface seams can then cause rejection during machining.
Customs problems arise when the invoice omits the processing condition or nickel content, or the buyer budgets for quota duty without confirming access. Resolve discrepancies before dispatch and keep disputed heats separate on arrival.
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 duplex round bars from China?
The supplied facts show 50% for hot-rolled and cold-finished round bars and forged bars with nickel 2.5% or more; forged bars below that level show 0%. The wider guide describes a 0% quota route for covered lines.
Does duplex stainless steel have its own commodity code?
Choose the line from the processing condition, circular cross-section, diameter and nickel content. Ask the mill for chemistry and processing records rather than classifying from the duplex description alone.
What should a duplex round-bar mill certificate include?
Ask for heat number, chemistry, heat treatment condition and mechanical results. Match the certificate to the bar markings and agree any phase-balance, corrosion or ultrasonic reports before ordering.
Can I accept duplex bars from a chemistry report alone?
Check chemistry alongside the agreed delivery condition and test results. A chemistry report does not resolve missing heat treatment records, dimensional checks or any microstructure testing specified in your order.