Sourcing magnesium profiles from China

Zero duty on magnesium profiles

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 8104 covers magnesium and its articles, including waste and scrap. All supplied lines carry 0% duty for goods from China. For extruded profiles, 8104 90 00 00, described as “Other”, is a provisional classification. The table shows profile forms sharing that line, rather than separate tariff subdivisions.

The supplied profile line shows no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control. Suspensions elsewhere in the heading concern specified unwrought magnesium and powder. The waste and scrap line has import and export waste controls; if buying discarded profiles as scrap, confirm the applicable requirements with your customs broker.

Confirm the commodity code using the drawing, composition, processing and intended use, particularly for profiles machined into identifiable components. Import VAT is normally 20%; see UK import duty and VAT. For the wider magnesium family, see magnesium alloy rods.

Specify the alloy, section and finish

Send a controlled cross-section drawing showing wall thickness, corner radii, slots, mating faces and inspection datums. Specify alloy composition, heat-treatment condition, cut length, straightness, twist, surface finish and machining allowance. Agree whether measurements apply before or after coating, and approve a sample that fits the intended assembly.

UK REACH generally applies to substances on their own, in mixtures and in articles. Candidate List inclusion brings supplier obligations. Obtain alloy chemistry and coating composition, then check the relevant obligations before supplying profiles in Great Britain. Agree independent material testing through testing and certification.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 200 kg of magnesium alloy extruded channels under 8104 90 00 00, invoiced at £2,000 free on board, with £800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £2,800. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £2,800, so it is £560. 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

Material: match bundle identification to the batch certificate; compare independent chemistry and mechanical test results with the agreed alloy and condition.

Geometry: measure thin walls, slot openings, corner radii and mating faces against the drawing; check straightness and twist along the profile.

Surface: inspect for extrusion cracks, scoring, dents and corrosion; check coating coverage inside recesses and at cut ends where coating was specified.

Packing: check that profiles are dry, separated and supported against bending; confirm bundle labels remain readable and match the delivery records. Agree checks through quality inspection.

What goes wrong

An acceptable outside dimension can hide a thin wall or a slot that will not accept its mating part. Twist may appear only when a profile is laid against the assembly datum. Extrusion cracks and scoring can remain visible after finishing, while poorly supported bundles arrive bent.

A certificate without matching batch identification cannot establish which material was delivered. Mixed heat-treatment conditions can produce inconsistent machining or assembly results. Keep an approved sample, retain batch records and agree whether rejected material will be replaced or reworked before placing the order.

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.