Sourcing etched capacitor foil from China
Etched aluminium capacitor foil from China carries 6% UK duty across the relevant further-worked foil lines, with no anti-dumping duty shown. Match the code to thickness, layers and supply form, and agree capacitance testing before ordering. Cambridge China Bridge sources etched aluminium capacitor foil.
Duty on etched capacitor foil
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 7607 covers aluminium foil no thicker than 0.2 mm, excluding backing. For etched capacitor foil, the table gives candidate further-worked, unbacked foil lines. Thickness, internal layers and whether the shipment is coils or sheets decide which description fits. See the unetched capacitor foil guide for material supplied before etching.
The selected lines carry 6% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no attached import controls shown in the supplied snapshot. Code 7607 19 90 96 also has a 0.00% suspension, but its footnote covers a lithium-and-manganese laminate bonded to aluminium for rechargeable battery cathodes. That description does not cover ordinary etched aluminium capacitor foil. The other selected lines show no suspension.
Give your customs broker the foil specification, processing description and photographs before confirming the commodity code. HMRC says a supplier's overseas code needs checking against UK treatment. Keep the distinction between etched foil, unetched stock and finished capacitors clear in the invoice description.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other further-worked unbacked foil, under 0.021 mm | 7607 19 10 90 | 6% | None |
| Further-worked foil coils, 0.03 mm to under 0.2 mm, without internal layers | 7607 19 90 75 | 6% | None |
| Other further-worked foil, 0.2 mm, without internal layers | 7607 19 90 94 | 6% | None |
| Other further-worked unbacked foil, 0.021 mm to 0.2 mm | 7607 19 90 96 | 6% | None |
Etching, forming and capacitance
Specify anode or cathode use, aluminium purity and impurity limits, thickness and width tolerances, etching condition and whether the foil is supplied formed or unformed. Agree specific capacitance with its test electrolyte, formation voltage, temperature and measurement method. For formed anode foil, agree leakage-current acceptance as well. Ask for batch test results tied to reel identifiers, rather than a generic grade sheet.
Agree tensile strength, elongation, bend performance, slit-edge condition, permitted splices, winding direction and core dimensions. Trial the foil through your own slitting, forming and winding process before approving repeat supply. For UK REACH, assess the supplied material's status and substance risks with a competent adviser: HSE says registration applies to substances in articles only in limited cases.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 20 kg of etched aluminium capacitor foil for production trials (illustrative) under 7607 19 90 75, invoiced at £3,000 free on board, with £500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £3,500. Duty at 6% is £210. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £3,710, so it is £742. Import taxes total £952; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £210 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Identity: match reel labels, batch certificates, purity results and etched or formed condition to the purchase specification.
Electrical performance: test samples against the agreed capacitance method and, for formed anode foil, leakage-current criteria; retain samples from identified reels.
Mechanical condition: check thickness, width, slit edges, tears, creases and unwinding behaviour against the agreed tolerances.
Arrival condition: inspect moisture protection, corrosion, crushed cores and displaced winding before releasing reels to production. Use a product-specific inspection brief.
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What goes wrong
A capacitance result is difficult to compare if the factory uses a different formation voltage or test method. Foil can meet dimensions yet tear during winding, while edge burrs, creases or contamination cause rejection in the buyer's process. Keep formed and unformed grades separately identified, record splice locations and agree how failed reels will be isolated.
Confirm with your customs broker or HMRC whether the supplied aluminium foil falls within UK CBAM scope and when any obligations apply. Request supplier emissions information alongside batch records and review the UK CBAM guide before planning later imports.
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 etched capacitor foil from China?
The relevant further-worked foil lines in the supplied tariff snapshot carry 6%, with no anti-dumping duty shown. The battery-laminate suspension on the residual line does not describe ordinary etched capacitor foil.
Is etched capacitor foil the same as unetched foil?
No. Describe the processing condition explicitly. Unetched stock for subsequent etching needs a different specification; etched foil also needs agreed capacitance and mechanical acceptance tests.
What test report should I ask the foil factory for?
Ask for reel-linked batch results covering purity, dimensions, specific capacitance and mechanical properties. Record the electrical test conditions, and include leakage-current results where formed anode foil is ordered.
Does etched capacitor foil automatically need UK REACH registration?
Do not assume either registration or exemption. HSE says registration applies to substances in articles only in limited cases. Establish the supplied material's status and applicable obligations before importing.