Sourcing magnesium alloy tubes from China
Magnesium alloy tubes from China entered as other magnesium articles pay 0% UK duty throughout this tube family, with no anti-dumping duty. UK REACH registration applies to substances in articles only in limited cases; check applicability before importing. Cambridge China Bridge sources magnesium alloy tubes.
UK duty on magnesium alloy tubes
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 8104 covers magnesium and articles thereof, including waste and scrap. For magnesium alloy tubes entered as other magnesium articles, the relevant candidate is 8104 90 00 00, carrying 0% duty for goods from China. The table shows tube forms sharing this code, rather than separate tariff subdivisions.
The supplied tariff snapshot records no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control for this line. Suspensions elsewhere in the heading cover selected unwrought magnesium and powder. The separate waste and scrap line has waste import and export controls attached. If buying scrap rather than new tubes, confirm the applicable requirements with your customs broker. Waste shipment controls apply only where the material is waste.
Confirm the commodity code using the composition, supplied form and intended use, particularly for tubes already made into identifiable components. For the wider product family, see magnesium alloy extruded profiles. Import VAT at 20% still applies.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Magnesium alloy round tubes | 8104 90 00 00 | 0% | None |
Specify the alloy, tube geometry and condition
State the alloy designation and chemistry limits, temper or heat-treatment condition, production route, cross-section, outside dimensions, wall thickness, length and tolerances. Agree straightness, ovality, corner radii for rectangular sections, end squareness and acceptable surface defects. Ask the factory to identify any extrusion seam rather than treating every hollow section as seamless.
Specify tensile properties and the sampling method against the agreed tube specification. Request batch-linked composition and mechanical test reports. Include iron, nickel and copper limits in the chemistry checks because these impurities affect magnesium corrosion. Agree the surface finish, any coating, and dry packing that supports the tubes without crushing their ends.
For Great Britain, UK REACH registration applies to substances in articles in certain limited cases. Check whether registration applies to the supplied product before importing; a material certificate does not settle that question.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 2 tonnes of magnesium alloy round tubes under 8104 90 00 00, invoiced at £50,000 free on board, with £2,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £52,500. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £52,500, so it is £10,500. 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
Composition and condition: match bundle identifiers to the batch reports, check chemistry against the ordered alloy, and verify the agreed mechanical properties and heat-treatment condition.
Geometry: measure wall thickness around the section and along sampled tubes; check outside dimensions, straightness, ovality, cut length and end squareness against the drawing.
Surface and ends: inspect inside and outside surfaces for cracks, extrusion lines, pitting and corrosion; check cut ends for burrs, dents and distortion.
Packing and traceability: check dry wrapping, separators and end protection, and keep batch identities readable after unpacking. Agree the sampling and acceptance method through your inspection brief.
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What goes wrong
A tube can meet its outside dimensions while its wall is uneven or its bore is off-centre. Bent lengths, dented ends and burrs can prevent assembly. Substituted alloy or heat-treatment condition can leave machining and bending trials unrepresentative of the delivered batch.
Moisture can leave corrosion beneath wrapping, while copied certificates break the link between the report and the tubes. Check a production sample in the intended machining or joining process, agree measurable rejection criteria, and quarantine suspect bundles until their identity and condition are resolved.
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 magnesium alloy tubes from China?
The supplied tariff snapshot gives 0% duty under 8104 90 00 00, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty recorded. Import VAT at 20% still applies. Confirm the code for the supplied form.
What should I specify when ordering magnesium alloy tubes?
Specify alloy, chemistry limits, heat-treatment condition, production route, cross-section, wall thickness, length, straightness and surface finish. Agree tolerances and mechanical test acceptance before ordering.
What certificates should magnesium alloy tubes come with?
Request batch-linked chemistry and mechanical test reports against the agreed specification. Match the reports to bundle identifiers and independently check samples where the application warrants it.
Do magnesium alloy tubes need UK REACH registration?
UK REACH registration applies to substances in articles in certain limited cases. Check applicability to the supplied product before importing rather than assuming the alloy certificate resolves it.