Sourcing mirror aluminium sheets from China

UK duty on mirror-finish aluminium sheets

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 7606 covers aluminium plates, sheets and strip exceeding 0.2 mm thick. The table gives candidate lines for rectangular mirror-finish sheets, depending on alloy, thickness, coating and form. The finish description alone is insufficient to select a line.

The listed lines carry 6% ordinary duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping duty, countervailing duty or attached import controls recorded. Codes 7606 12 92 93 and 7606 12 93 86 have a 0% suspension restricted to qualifying sheets for manufacturing balcony parts. Ordinary decorative mirror sheets do not qualify merely because they share a code. Other heading lines have separate specified-use suspensions.

Confirm the material, surface treatment, backing, thickness, form and intended use with your broker using finding your commodity code. See the wider aluminium sheet guide. The UK Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism comes into effect on 1 January 2027; confirm with HMRC or your broker whether your heading 7606 goods fall within its aluminium scope. Discuss future imports and supplier emissions information with your broker before ordering.

Reflection quality, surface treatment and forming

Specify alloy, temper, sheet dimensions, thickness tolerance, flatness and whether the reflective face is mechanically polished, anodised or coated. Identify the show face and describe acceptable haze, polishing marks and reflected-image distortion. Retain an approved sample and agree lighting, viewing angle and comparison method. Ask for measured reflectance if optical performance matters; a glossy photograph is insufficient.

Trial the actual cutting and bending process on a sample, checking cracking, loss of finish and film removal afterwards. For outdoor use, request durability evidence for the exact surface treatment. UK REACH restrictions address chemical risks in articles as well as substances and mixtures. Ask for coating and treatment composition information so applicable restrictions can be checked before sale.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 20 tonnes of mirror-finish aluminium alloy sheets for a sheet-metal business; FOB and freight values are illustrative whole pounds. under 7606 12 92 94, invoiced at £36,000 free on board, with £4,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £40,000. Duty at 6% is £2,400. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £42,400, so it is £8,480. Import taxes total £10,880; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £2,400 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Material and dimensions: match batch-linked material certificates to the ordered alloy and temper; measure thickness, length, width, squareness and flatness against the purchase specification.

Reflective face: remove protective film from agreed inspection samples and compare haze, scratches, polishing lines, pits and reflected-image distortion with the retained sample under the agreed lighting.

Film and fabrication: check that film peels cleanly without adhesive residue; trial cutting and bending, then examine the exposed face and edges for cracking, burrs and damage.

Packing and traceability: check clean interleaving, edge protection, dry packs and batch labels during quality inspection; photograph damaged corners and water staining before processing.

What goes wrong

A supplier may deliver a bright surface that still produces a hazy or rippled reflection. Protective film can conceal scratches, and polishing direction can become visible when adjacent sheets are installed. Approve exposed production samples rather than judging through film or from photographs.

A substituted temper can change bending behaviour, while an unsuitable coating can crack during fabrication or lose its appearance outdoors. Trapped moisture can stain stacked sheets, and grit between faces can scratch them in transit. Tie material evidence, the finish sample, fabrication trials and packing instructions to 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.