Sourcing ferrochrome from China

Ferrochrome duty and classification

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 5 November 2026, all ferrochrome lines in heading 7202 carry 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record shows no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, steel measure or attached import controls for these lines. The wider family is covered in our ferro-alloys guide.

Code 7202 49 90 00 also records a 0.00 % autonomous suspension for ferrochrome containing 1.5% to 4% carbon and not more than 70% chromium by weight. It excludes mixtures, preparations and products made from different components containing these products. The ordinary duty is already zero.

Confirm the commodity code against the batch's carbon and chromium analysis, rather than the supplier's grade name alone. Ask your customs broker to confirm whether the UK carbon border adjustment mechanism will apply to your planned ferrochrome imports, using our UK carbon border guide as a starting point.

Chromium yield, carbon limits and lump size

Specify chromium content, the permitted carbon range and limits for silicon, phosphorus and sulphur. State the lump size range, permitted fines and how net weight is determined. Match the specification to the receiving furnace and the buyer's melt chemistry.

Agree batch identification, sampling, sample preparation and an independent umpire laboratory before ordering. Require analysis certificates tied to the actual shipment. UK REACH regulates chemicals placed on the market in Great Britain; assess registration responsibilities for the supplied material before purchase. Registration is per substance, per legal entity.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 25 tonnes of ferrochrome with carbon above 6%; illustrative FOB and freight values under 7202 41 90 00, invoiced at £30,000 free on board, with £2,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £32,500. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £32,500, so it is £6,500. 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

Analysis: compare independent batch results for chromium, carbon and impurities with the purchase specification and supplier certificate.

Size: screen representative samples for lump size and fines; check for mixed grades and foreign material.

Traceability: match bag or lot markings to certificates, retained samples and the packing list.

Condition and weight: check bags, seals and container floors for damage or moisture; reconcile received net weight with shipment records.

What goes wrong

A chromium shortfall changes the amount needed in the melt. Excess carbon can make a batch unsuitable for the intended steel grade. Too many fines, mixed lots or a certificate covering a different batch can turn a nominally matching grade into a rejected delivery.

Avoid settling disputes from a surface grab sample alone. Agree representative sampling at loading and arrival, retain identified samples and define which laboratory result governs acceptance. Arrange quality inspection around the contract's chemistry and size limits.

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.