Sourcing hot-rolled pickled coils from China
Hot-rolled pickled and oiled non-alloy steel coils from China carry 0% duty within an available steel quota or 50% outside it, plus 35.90% residual countervailing duty. Confirm thickness, producer and quota eligibility before ordering. Cambridge China Bridge sources hot-rolled pickled and oiled steel coils.
Steel quota duty and countervailing duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, heading 7208 covers hot-rolled flat products of iron or non-alloy steel, at least 600 mm wide, not clad, plated or coated. This guide concerns pickled and oiled coils. Their pickled-coil codes depend on thickness. The table repeats the thicker-coil code for mill-edge and slit-edge specifications; these are buying variants under the same code.
The supplied tariff records 50% third-country duty and the steel measure on these codes. The steel quota rate is 0% when an eligible allocation is available. It also records residual anti-dumping duty of 0.00% and countervailing duty of 35.90%, with no listed suspensions or attached import controls. Trade remedies remain applicable within quota and accumulate with the steel duty outside quota. The countervailing notice states an expiry of 7 April 2027.
Confirm the commodity code using the mill chemistry, actual width, thickness and processing history. Ask your broker to check the producer-specific duties, invoice declaration and quota claim before shipment. For other products within the heading, see hot-rolled steel. Discuss the applicability and timing of the UK carbon border adjustment mechanism, and the supplier emissions information to request, with your broker.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pickled and oiled coils, thickness below 3 mm | 7208 27 00 00 | 50% outside quota | 0.00% residual anti-dumping; 35.90% residual countervailing |
| Pickled and oiled coils, thickness from 3 mm to below 4,75 mm | 7208 26 00 00 | 50% outside quota | 0.00% residual anti-dumping; 35.90% residual countervailing |
| Mill-edge pickled and oiled coils, thickness 4,75 mm or more | 7208 25 00 00 | 50% outside quota | 0.00% residual anti-dumping; 35.90% residual countervailing |
Specify the pickled surface and protective oil
Write down the steel grade and intended forming or fabrication process, thickness and width tolerances, edge condition, coil weight, inner diameter and permitted welds. Agree a mill certificate showing heat identity, chemistry and mechanical results. For demanding forming work, approve a trial from the proposed grade and supply condition.
Specify acceptable residual scale, surface pits and scratches, oil type and coverage, and compatibility with your cleaning, welding or painting process. Agree moisture protection and coil identification. Request feedstock-origin and processing records alongside the mill certificate: customs may request evidence of the steel's supply chain.
Inspection checklist
Traceability: match coil tags and heat numbers to the packing list and mill certificates; investigate mixed heats or missing test results.
Dimensions: measure thickness and width across accessible samples; check edge burrs, camber and coil dimensions against the agreed specification.
Surface and oil: inspect samples for residual scale, pickling pits, rust, scratches and uneven oil coverage; try the agreed cleaning and forming process.
Packing and arrival: check moisture barriers, bands, edge protection and coil displacement; photograph wet wrapping or damaged edges before accepting the delivery. See quality inspection.
What goes wrong
Uneven pickling leaves scale or pits that become visible after painting. Patchy oiling and damp packing allow rust, while unsuitable oil creates extra cleaning work. Incorrect coil dimensions can prevent loading onto the buyer's decoiler. A surface sample alone does not establish the grade's forming performance.
Commercial failures include a quotation that omits countervailing duty, an unsupported producer-specific rate, or quota becoming unavailable before import. Match the mill, exporter, certificates and invoice before shipping, then have the broker confirm the declaration. Use UK import duty and VAT when checking the landed-cost calculation.
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 pickled and oiled steel coils from China?
The supplied tariff records 50% outside the steel quota, with 0% available within quota, plus 35.90% residual countervailing duty. Residual anti-dumping is 0.00%. Confirm the producer and quota claim with your broker.
Which commodity code covers hot-rolled pickled and oiled coils?
For non-alloy steel at least 600 mm wide, the supplied pickled-coil lines are 7208 25 00 00, 7208 26 00 00 and 7208 27 00 00. Thickness decides which line applies.
What should I ask the steel mill to supply?
Ask for heat-linked chemistry and mechanical results, coil dimensions and weight, edge condition, oil details, packing photographs and feedstock-origin records. Agree acceptance criteria before production.
Does protective oil guarantee that the coils will arrive without rust?
Do not treat oiling as an arrival guarantee. Agree oil coverage and moisture protection, inspect the wrapping and exposed surfaces on arrival, and record rust or water damage before processing.