Sourcing marble paving slabs from China

UK duty on marble paving slabs

Heading 6801 covers natural stone setts, kerbs and flagstones other than slate. This guide concerns marble paving flagstones within that heading. The supplied tariff data contains a single commodity line, so the table shows that line only. See the wider stone paving guide for other products.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 4 October 2026, commodity code 6801 00 00 00 carries 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied data lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspensions or attached import controls. These tariff findings do not replace construction product requirements.

Polished or otherwise further-worked marble paving can fall under heading 6802. Give your broker photographs, the intended use and details of cutting and surface treatment before confirming the commodity code. Do not classify a slab solely because the supplier calls it paving.

Specify marble for outdoor paving

Record the stone name, quarry and bed, colour range, vein pattern, surface finish, edge treatment, dimensions and thickness tolerances. Approve a range of samples showing acceptable variation. Agree whether resin-filled areas, repaired cracks or mesh backing are acceptable, and require the supplier to identify any such treatment.

Ask the relevant construction products authority to confirm whether BS EN 1341 applies to the external natural stone paving slabs and what declaration of performance and CE or UKCA marking requirements apply. CE marking continues to be accepted in Great Britain. Ask for flexural strength, water absorption, freeze-thaw, abrasion and slip resistance results matching the proposed marble and finish. Agree performance suitable for the intended pedestrian or vehicle use before ordering.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 25 tonnes of palletised marble paving slabs; illustrative order and values under 6801 00 00 00, invoiced at £9,000 free on board, with £3,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £12,500. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £12,500, so it is £2,500. 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

Stone: compare slabs from different pallets with retained samples in daylight. Check colour, veining, rust spots, open cracks and undisclosed repairs.

Geometry: measure length, width and thickness against the agreed tolerances. Check flatness, edge damage and whether slabs sit evenly when laid out.

Performance and documents: match the declaration, marking and test reports to the supplied stone and finish. Compare surface texture across pallets. Use the quality inspection guide to agree inspection coverage.

Packing: check separators, edge protection, strapping and pallet stability before loading and on arrival. Wood packaging material must be made of debarked wood. Certificates cannot replace the ISPM15 mark.

What goes wrong

A sample can conceal variation across a quarry batch. Replacement stone may have different veining, staining or strength. Repairs can open during handling, thin edges can chip, and inconsistent thickness makes laying difficult. Specify acceptable variation and photograph inspected pallets before dispatch.

A finish approved for appearance may offer unsuitable slip performance outdoors. Frost damage can also appear after installation where the declared performance does not suit the project. Check reports for the actual stone and finish, and confirm classification before ordering polished slabs.

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.