Sourcing hot-rolled steel hex bars from China
Hot-rolled non-alloy steel hexagonal bars from China show 50% UK duty in the supplied tariff snapshot; published quota treatment ranges from 0% to 50%, subject to eligibility. Match the code to carbon content, free-cutting chemistry and rolling condition. Cambridge China Bridge sources hot-rolled non-alloy steel hexagonal bars.
Duty and classification for hot-rolled hexagonal bars
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 28 October 2026, heading 7214 covers iron or non-alloy steel bars and rods not further worked than forged, hot-rolled, hot-drawn or hot-extruded, including those twisted after rolling. This guide concerns hot-rolled hexagonal bars. Free-cutting steel has its own branch; other engineering hex bars divide by carbon content. The concrete-reinforcement row applies only to goods of that type.
The supplied snapshot records 50% third-country duty for all the selected lines, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control recorded for them. The site's published steel-bar background describes 0% within the steel quota and 50% outside it. Ask your customs broker to confirm current quota eligibility and availability before budgeting for relief.
Confirm the commodity code using the mill chemistry, manufacturing condition, cross-section and intended use. Do not use a circular-bar line for hexagonal stock. If your purchase requires a cold-drawn finish, compare the separate cold-drawn mild-steel hexagonal bars guide before agreeing the specification.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hot-rolled hexagonal bars of free-cutting non-alloy steel | 7214 30 00 90 | 50% | None |
| Other hot-rolled hexagonal bars containing less than 0.25% carbon | 7214 99 50 00 | 50% | None |
| Other hot-rolled hexagonal bars containing 0.25% or more carbon | 7214 99 95 90 | 50% | None |
| Low-carbon plain hexagonal bars of a type used for concrete reinforcement | 7214 99 10 90 | 50% | None |
Specify the hexagonal section and machining allowance
Specify the non-alloy steel grade, chemical composition, hot-rolled delivery condition and intended machining or fabrication process. State whether free-cutting chemistry is required. Ask for a mill certificate showing the heat identity, chemistry and agreed mechanical test results, with bundle tags that allow the delivered bars to be matched to it.
Define size across flats, acceptable variation across the section, corner shape, straightness, twist, length and end condition. Agree machining allowance and acceptable scale, rust, seams and surface damage. A sample should demonstrate that the ordered section leaves enough material for the finished component.
Agree bundle identification, lifting arrangements, moisture protection and supports that prevent bending during transport. If solid wood supports or pallets are used, you or your packing service must ensure that the wood packaging meets the applicable requirements.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 20 tonnes of low-carbon hot-rolled non-alloy steel hexagonal bars; FOB and freight values are illustrative under 7214 99 50 00, invoiced at £18,000 free on board, with £2,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £20,000. Duty at 50% is £10,000. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £30,000, so it is £6,000. Import taxes total £16,000; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £10,000 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Heat identity: match bundle tags and bar identification to the mill certificate, ordered grade and packing list.
Hexagonal section: measure across flats at different positions, compare opposing faces and inspect corners, straightness and twist.
Surface and ends: check for seams, deep pits, excessive scale, transport damage and cut ends that reduce usable length.
Machining and packing: trial-machine a sample where finish matters, then check bundle security, moisture protection and bent bars on arrival.
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What goes wrong
A supplier treats the nominal across-flats size as sufficient, but twist, rounded corners or surface defects leave too little machining allowance. Mixed heats can also make a certificate difficult to apply to the delivered stock. Put dimensional acceptance and heat identification into the purchase specification and inspection brief.
Another failure is agreeing cold-drawn expectations while buying hot-rolled material. Settle the delivery condition before ordering and compare sample machining results with the intended component. For duty, use the recorded 50% rate in your provisional budget unless your broker confirms quota treatment.
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 hot-rolled steel hex bars from China?
The supplied tariff snapshot records 50% on the selected lines. Published background describes 0% within the steel quota and 50% outside it; confirm eligibility and availability with your broker.
Which commodity code covers hot-rolled hexagonal steel bars?
Free-cutting non-alloy bars use 7214 30 00 90. Other engineering hex bars use 7214 99 50 00 below 0.25% carbon or 7214 99 95 90 at 0.25% or more. Confirm the chemistry and use.
Are hot-rolled hex bars interchangeable with cold-drawn bars?
Agree this against your drawing. Compare across-flats tolerance, straightness, twist, surface condition and machining allowance rather than accepting the same nominal size as proof.
Can CE-marked construction products still be supplied in Great Britain?
Yes, where CE marking has been legitimately affixed. For hex bars intended for construction, confirm the applicable product route and intended use before accepting the supplier's marking claim.