Sourcing hot-rolled triangular bars from China

Duty and classification for triangular bars

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 7 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 solid triangular bars supplied in the hot-rolled condition. Cold-finished bright bars fall under 7215.

The supplied snapshot lists 50% third-country duty for every line selected here, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or import control recorded against those lines. The site's earlier heading guide describes 0% treatment within a steel quota. Have your broker confirm any quota entitlement separately; use the snapshot's 50% rate for budgeting unless relief is confirmed.

For ordinary triangular bars, distinguish carbon below 0.25% from carbon at or above 0.25%. Free-cutting steel and concrete-reinforcement types have separate branches; the reinforcement row is conditional, not a general triangular-bar code. Give your broker the drawing, mill chemistry, manufacturing route and intended use to confirm the commodity code. For related profiles within the heading, see the hot-rolled half-round bars guide.

Specify the triangular profile and rolling condition

Supply a dimensioned cross-section drawing showing side lengths, height, angles, corner radii and tolerances. State whether the triangle is equilateral or unequal-sided. Agree bar length, straightness, twist, cut-end condition and machining allowance. A nominal side dimension alone leaves the usable profile unclear.

Specify the steel grade, chemical composition, mechanical properties and hot-rolled delivery condition. Ask the mill to confirm whether it rolls the triangular profile itself. Agree acceptable scale, surface seams, laps, corrosion protection and bundle identification. Link each bundle to its heat certificate.

For construction use in Great Britain, establish the applicable product specification and conformity route before ordering. Government guidance confirms that construction products bearing legitimately affixed CE marking can continue to be supplied to that market. Check that the supplier's documents cover the actual product and intended use.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 20 tonnes of hot-rolled non-alloy steel triangular bars 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

Profile: measure side lengths, height, angles and corner radii against the approved drawing at different positions along sampled bars.

Straightness and surface: check bow, twist, cut ends, rolled seams, laps and pitting after loose scale is removed.

Material: match bundle tags to heat certificates; compare chemistry and mechanical results with the purchase specification and commission independent checks where needed.

Traceability: reconcile heat identities, bar lengths, bundle weights and the packing list. Keep supply-chain records available because traders may be asked for evidence at the border.

What goes wrong

Rounded corners or an unequal profile can leave too little material for machining, even when the quoted side dimension looks correct. Twist can prevent bars seating in fixtures, while scale can conceal laps or pitting. Agree measurement methods and rejection criteria before production, then use a pre-shipment inspection.

Classification problems arise when a supplier describes everything as mild steel without declaring carbon content, free-cutting chemistry or reinforcement use. Mixed heats also break the connection between certificates and delivered bars. Hold unidentified bundles for investigation and resolve the tariff position with your broker before 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.