Sourcing indium foil from China

Indium foil duty and classification

Heading 8112 covers the listed minor metals and their articles. Finished indium foil falls within the gallium, indium and vanadium articles line, 8112 99 70 00, subject to confirmation for the actual goods. The table shows foil forms sharing that commodity line, rather than separate tariff lines. For the wider material family, see indium ingots.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, the supplied foil line carries 0% duty for goods from China. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control is recorded on that line. Import VAT at 20% still applies. See UK import duty and VAT for the calculation method.

Give your customs broker the composition, manufacturing form and intended use, including details of any adhesive, coating or backing. Confirm the classification using finding your commodity code. UK REACH generally applies to individual substances on their own, in mixtures or in articles; assess the obligations for your particular foil before supplying it in Great Britain.

Purity, thickness and usable surface

Specify indium purity and permitted impurities, thickness and its tolerance, width, length, cut shape and net metal weight. State whether you need bare foil or material with a backing or adhesive. Ask for a batch certificate of analysis linked to the delivered material.

Agree how thickness will be measured without compressing the foil, and define acceptable wrinkles, edge damage, surface marks and contamination against an approved sample. Specify interleaving and rigid support for cut sheets. Trial the sample in the intended joint or thermal interface before approving production.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: A small trial batch of cut indium foil sheets, illustrative only under 8112 99 70 00, invoiced at £3,600 free on board, with £200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £3,800. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £3,800, so it is £760. 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

Identity: match the batch labels and certificate of analysis to the order, and arrange independent purity testing where the application warrants it.

Dimensions: check thickness across the width and along sampled lengths using the agreed measurement method; compare cut dimensions with the drawing.

Surface: inspect for tears, pinholes, folds, embedded particles and residue; check that sheets separate without stretching or tearing.

Packing and quantity: check net metal weight separately from liners and packaging, inspect supports and seals, and photograph arrival damage. Plan these checks through quality inspection.

What goes wrong

A nominal thickness can conceal local thin areas, while excessive measuring pressure can give misleading readings. Folded sheets, damaged edges or residue from liners can leave material unusable even when its certificate meets the purity specification. Agree the measurement method and defect acceptance criteria before dispatch.

A certificate copied from another batch does not establish the purity of the delivered foil. Keep a retained sample and compare independent results with the batch certificate. Specify packing that supports the foil without marking its surface, and record discrepancies before releasing the material into production.

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.