Sourcing FeCrAl heating alloy wire from China

Duty and classification for FeCrAl heating wire

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 7229 covers wire of other alloy steel. Its supplied lines all carry 0% duty from China. The candidate line for FeCrAl wire is 7229 90 90 00, provided its chemistry places it in other alloy steel rather than stainless steel. The table describes supply forms within that same candidate line, rather than separate tariff codes.

The supplied facts record no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, steel measure or suspension. They attach import and export waste controls. Ask your customs broker to confirm the waste-control requirement for the actual goods and route from China. For waste imports into England under notification controls, the exporter must apply to the competent authority in the country of dispatch for consent.

Confirm the commodity code using the composition certificate and supplied form. Ask your customs broker to confirm whether and when heading 7229 falls within the UK carbon border adjustment mechanism, and ask the supplier for emissions data. See the wider resistance-wire guide and the import duty and VAT guide.

Specify chemistry, resistance and winding

Order by the agreed iron, chromium and aluminium composition, supported by a batch analysis, rather than a supplier's grade name alone. Specify wire diameter and tolerance, resistance per unit length at an agreed measurement temperature, supply condition, surface finish and permitted joints. Record the intended operating temperature, atmosphere and heating cycle so the supplier can propose material for your application.

Agree spool dimensions, winding direction, coil handling, packing and batch identification. Approve a sample by forming it into your element geometry and running it in your intended equipment. UK REACH generally applies to substances on their own, in mixtures or in articles; review the alloy composition and any surface treatment when assessing your obligations.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative trial batch of spooled FeCrAl heating wire, assuming classification here under 7229 90 90 00, invoiced at £5,000 free on board, with £2,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £7,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £7,000, so it is £1,400. 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

Identity: match spool labels and batch numbers to the composition certificate, purchase order and approved sample.

Dimensions and resistance: measure diameter along sampled wire and compare resistance over a measured length at the agreed temperature.

Forming and surface: trial the intended coil geometry and check for cracking, kinks, contamination and unapproved joints.

Winding and packing: check smooth pay-off, secure wire ends, undamaged spool flanges and protection against moisture and crushing.

What goes wrong

A similar supplier grade name can conceal different chemistry or supply condition. Diameter variation changes resistance, while a resistance result without its measurement temperature is difficult to compare. Wire that passes a straight-length check can still crack during element forming or pay off badly from a damaged spool.

Keep the approved sample, test method and batch records together. Compare incoming wire before releasing it to production, and investigate failures against chemistry, diameter, forming and the actual heating cycle. Set these checks out in the inspection brief.

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.