Sourcing foundry coke from China

Foundry coke duty and classification

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, heading 2704 covers coke and semi-coke of coal, lignite or peat, whether or not agglomerated, and retort carbon. Coal-derived foundry coke falls within the coal coke line, 2704 00 10 00.

The supplied snapshot gives 0% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measure, suspension or attached import control recorded for this line. It contains only one commodity line relevant to coal-derived foundry coke, so the table has only that entry.

Confirm the raw material, manufacturing process and product description before choosing the commodity code. For the other products within this heading, see our coke and semi-coke guide.

Specify coke for your cupola

Describe the furnace and charge practice, then agree lump size distribution, undersize and oversize limits, resistance to breakage, fixed carbon, sulphur, ash, volatile matter and moisture. State whether analysis is on a dry or as-received basis. Agree the sampling and test methods, and require a certificate of analysis tied to the shipment lot. Trial a representative sample in your process before accepting a substitute grade.

Check Climate Change Levy treatment separately from import duty. Qualifying metallurgical use is exempt from the main rates; customers claiming the exemption must declare the qualifying use to their supplier. Before making a taxable supply or self-supply, check the HMRC registration requirement. Agree who handles the declaration and supporting paperwork when buying directly from China.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 20 tonnes of foundry coke in bulk bags under 2704 00 10 00, invoiced at £18,000 free on board, with £1,800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £19,800. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £19,800, so it is £3,960. 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: match the lot certificate to independent sample results for sulphur, ash, fixed carbon, volatile matter and moisture, using the agreed reporting basis.

Sizing and strength: sieve a representative sample and check breakage after handling against the agreed lump distribution and strength test.

Delivery condition: check wet patches, fines, foreign material, damaged bulk bags and delivered weight before accepting the lot.

Handling: check unloading and storage arrangements and obtain the supplier's handling information. Foundry employers must protect workers from dust and fume hazards.

What goes wrong

A supplier's foundry-grade description can hide a different size distribution or test basis. Weak lumps break into fines during loading and unloading; moisture increases delivered weight; sulphur or ash exceeds the agreed grade. A certificate for a different production lot does not establish the quality of the shipment.

Keep a sealed shipment sample, compare arrival results with the dispatch sample and agree how out-of-specification material will be handled before ordering. Our quality inspection guide explains how to organise checks.

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.