Sourcing fireclay refractory bricks from China

Fireclay classification and zero duty

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 6902 covers refractory ceramic constructional goods, excluding those of siliceous fossil meals or similar earths. Fireclay bricks under 6902 20 91 00 contain more than 50% alumina, silica or their mixture or compound, with alumina over 7% but under 45%. Goods from China carry 0% duty; no anti-dumping or countervailing duty or suspension is listed.

The tariff attaches a waste import control. For a Chinese consignment classed as waste and subject to notification controls, consent from the dispatch, destination and transit authorities is required before shipment. Ask your customs broker to confirm the waste classification and procedure before buying used furnace bricks. The snapshot also contains waste export-control and cultural-object export-licence entries; have these checked if you plan to re-export.

The table shows different brick shapes sharing the same fireclay line. Confirm the commodity code against the batch chemical analysis rather than the supplier's product name. Castables and mortars fall outside this brick heading. For other refractory compositions, see the wider refractory bricks and blocks guide.

Specify chemistry, shape and furnace conditions

State whether the lining needs dense or insulating fireclay bricks. Specify alumina and silica content, bulk density, apparent porosity, cold crushing strength, refractoriness under load and permanent dimensional change on heating. Agree acceptance values and test methods with the factory before production.

Supply drawings for straight, wedge, arch and special-shaped bricks, including dimensions, tolerances and joint faces. Describe the operating temperature, heating cycles and contact with ash or slag so the supplier can propose a suitable grade. Ask for batch test results and installation and heat-up instructions; a maximum-temperature claim alone does not establish suitability.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative container order of palletised fireclay refractory bricks under 6902 20 91 00, invoiced at £14,000 free on board, with £3,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £17,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £17,000, so it is £3,400. 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

Chemistry: check the batch alumina and silica results against the agreed grade and retain samples for independent verification.

Performance: check density and porosity to ISO 5017, cold crushing strength to ISO 10059-1, refractoriness under load to ISO 1893 and permanent dimensional change on heating to ISO 2478.

Dimensions and damage: measure sampled bricks against the drawing, checking joint faces, warpage, cracks, broken corners and chipped edges.

Packing and traceability: check pallet stability, corner protection, wrapping and dryness; match pallet labels to the grade, shape and batch test report. See quality inspection explained.

What goes wrong

Lower alumina than agreed can reduce performance under load. Under-fired bricks can shrink during heat-up and open joints, while poor thermal shock resistance can cause spalling during repeated heating and cooling. Dimensional variation makes consistent joints difficult, and transport damage can leave usable-looking bricks with broken seating edges.

Cutting and grinding fireclay bricks releases respirable crystalline silica, so installers need dust control. Specify the required shapes before ordering to reduce site cutting. Keep damaged or mismatched batches separate until the supplier and installer agree how to deal with them.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For own-brand ranges, see sourcing for brands.