Sourcing germanium sputtering targets from China
The relevant germanium lines carry 0% UK duty from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty listed. Confirm the target's commodity code and whether Chinese export licensing applies before ordering; review UK REACH status separately. Cambridge China Bridge sources germanium sputtering targets.
Germanium targets and UK duty
Heading 8112 includes germanium metal and articles. Machined targets are candidates for the germanium articles line, while unwrought germanium and powder have a separate line. The table repeats these lines for relevant purchasing forms, including target-making feedstock. Germanium dioxide and other compounds fall outside this metal heading.
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, both relevant germanium lines carried 0% duty for goods from China. Neither lists anti-dumping duty, countervailing duty, a suspension or an attached import control in the supplied tariff facts. Import VAT is normally 20%. China controls exports of some germanium items: ask the supplier whether the target needs an export licence and what end-use paperwork is needed.
Confirm the commodity code using composition, manufacturing condition and any backing assembly, rather than the supplier's description alone. For wider heading coverage, see hafnium sputtering targets. The calculation method is explained in UK import duty and VAT.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germanium articles: machined disc targets, classification to confirm | 8112 99 40 00 | 0% | None |
| Unwrought germanium feedstock for target manufacture | 8112 92 95 00 | 0% | None |
Specify the target and backing assembly
State elemental germanium or the exact alloy composition, purity basis, individual impurity limits and the analysis method. Specify diameter or length and width, thickness, flatness, edge profile and surface finish against a controlled drawing. Ask for electrical resistivity where it matters to your sputtering process.
For bonded targets, specify backing material, mounting details, bonding material and agreed bond coverage. Set acceptance criteria for voids and bond integrity, and confirm compatibility with the equipment's cooling and operating conditions. Request a lot-specific certificate of analysis and agree retained samples.
Review UK REACH status separately from tariff classification. Registration applies to substances on their own, substances in mixtures and, in limited cases, substances in articles. Ask your compliance adviser to assess the supplied target and its use before importing; a machined shape alone should not be your basis for assuming an exemption.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 2 germanium disc targets for a laboratory trial; values illustrative under 8112 99 40 00, invoiced at £2,000 free on board, with £800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £2,800. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £2,800, so it is £560. 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: match the lot certificate to the target labels, check the agreed impurity results and arrange independent analysis of a retained sample where required by your purchase specification.
Geometry: measure the target and mounting features against the drawing; check flatness, edge chips, cracks, scratches and surface contamination before installation.
Bond: compare the bond inspection report with the agreed acceptance criteria; inspect the backing plate and mounting surfaces without damaging the target.
Packing and records: check seals, protective supports and lot identification on arrival. Match the shipment to the agreed export and end-use documents. Use the inspection guide to organise the checks.
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What goes wrong
A purity headline can hide an unsuitable impurity profile, and a certificate from another lot gives no assurance about the delivered targets. Edge chips, cracks, poor flatness and an incorrect mounting pattern can make a target unusable. Bond voids or separation are further rejection points for bonded assemblies.
Agree acceptance criteria before production and compare the delivered lot with the approved drawing and analysis. Keep damaged or suspect targets out of the equipment pending review. Confirm export licensing and end-user paperwork before payment so document mismatches do not hold up dispatch.
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 germanium sputtering targets from China?
The supplied tariff facts show 0% on germanium articles and unwrought germanium or powder, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty listed. Confirm the target's classification. Import VAT is normally 20%.
Do germanium targets need a Chinese export licence?
Ask the supplier to confirm with the relevant Chinese authority, and provide written confirmation of, whether your target needs an export licence and which end-use and end-user documents are needed.
What should I specify for a bonded germanium target?
Specify target chemistry and geometry, backing material, mounting pattern, bonding material, bond coverage and void acceptance criteria. Agree how bond integrity will be checked.
Does a machined target avoid UK REACH registration?
Do not assume that it does. UK REACH registration covers substances and, in limited cases, substances in articles. Have the target's composition and use assessed separately from its customs code.