Sourcing hot-rolled octagonal bars from China
Hot-rolled non-alloy steel octagonal bars from China face 0% within available steel quota or 50% outside it; the supplied tariff snapshot lists 50%. Choose the code by carbon content, free-cutting status and use, rather than the octagonal shape alone. Cambridge China Bridge sources hot-rolled steel octagonal bars.
Octagonal-bar codes and steel quota
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. General-purpose octagonal bars fall within the other cross-section branches: under 0.25% carbon or 0.25% and above. Free-cutting steel has a separate branch.
The selected lines list 50% third-country duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control recorded. The published reference guide and official steel notice describe duty-free entry within available quota and 50% outside quota. Ask your broker to confirm quota access before relying on the lower rate.
Confirm the commodity code using the mill chemistry, processing condition and intended use. The reinforcing-type row applies only where that classification fits the actual goods. Cold-finished bars belong to a different heading. See the hot-rolled steel hexagonal bars guide for the wider heading.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hot-rolled octagonal bars, under 0.25% carbon, other than reinforcing types | 7214 99 50 00 | 50% | None |
| Other hot-rolled octagonal bars, 0.25% carbon or more | 7214 99 95 90 | 50% | None |
| Hot-rolled octagonal bars of free-cutting steel, other | 7214 30 00 90 | 50% | None |
| Octagonal bars under 0.25% carbon, only if of a concrete-reinforcing type, other | 7214 99 10 90 | 50% | None |
Specify the octagonal section and machining allowance
Send a section drawing showing dimensions across flats and across corners, corner radii, permitted section variation, straightness, twist, length and end condition. Specify non-alloy grade, carbon content, hot-rolled delivery condition and the surface defects you will accept. Agree enough machining allowance to remove scale without leaving the finished part undersize.
Ask for heat-linked mill certificates giving chemistry and mechanical results. Traders should be prepared to provide verifiable supply-chain documents for Russia sanctions checks; request the steel input origins and processing history before shipment. For construction applications, agree the applicable specification and conformity route with the project buyer. Legitimately CE-marked construction products can continue to be supplied in Great Britain.
Confirm with HMRC whether heading 7214 steel bars fall within the carbon border adjustment mechanism and when it will apply to your imports. Ask the mill for emissions information when planning orders that may arrive after commencement, and review the UK carbon border adjustment guide.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 20 tonnes of hot-rolled non-alloy steel octagonal 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
Section: measure across flats and corners along the bar; compare corner radii and section variation with the drawing.
Straightness: check bending and twist against the agreed tolerances, including bars taken from inside bundles.
Surface: inspect for rolled laps, cracks, deep rust pits, scale and damaged ends; check whether the machining allowance can remove accepted defects.
Traceability: match bundle tags and heat numbers to mill certificates; check chemistry, length and delivered weight against the order. Use the quality inspection guide to brief the inspector.
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What goes wrong
A supplier quotes across corners when the buyer intended across flats, or supplies a rounded section that leaves insufficient machining stock. Bent bars, rolled laps and mixed heats can also make a bundle unsuitable for production. Agree the drawing, delivery condition and rejection criteria before ordering, then inspect against them.
Octagonal shape alone does not settle classification. Carbon content, free-cutting composition and reinforcing-type status can change the branch. A quota assumption can also leave the buyer paying 50% when the bars arrive. Have the broker check classification and quota access, and compare the landed calculation with the duty and VAT guide.
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 octagonal steel bars from China?
The selected lines in the supplied snapshot list 50%. The steel quota route allows 0% where available; outside quota, 50% applies. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty is recorded on these lines.
Which commodity code covers hot-rolled octagonal steel bars?
For general-purpose non-alloy bars, 7214 99 50 00 covers under 0.25% carbon and 7214 99 95 90 covers 0.25% or more. Free-cutting steel and reinforcing types need separate classification checks.
Should I specify across flats or across corners?
Put both dimensions on the section drawing, with corner radii and tolerances. Identify the controlling dimension for machining or fit, and agree the machining allowance.
What documents should I request from the steel mill?
Request heat-linked chemistry and mechanical results, bundle identification and steel input origins with processing history. Match the documents to the delivered bars rather than accepting an unrelated sample certificate.