Sourcing molybdenum wire from China

Zero duty on molybdenum wire

Heading 8102 covers molybdenum and its articles, including waste and scrap. This guide covers wire only. The wire subdivisions distinguish molybdenum content and maximum cross-sectional dimension; a separate subdivision identifies certain consignments from Malaysia. See the wider molybdenum products guide for other forms.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 20 October 2026, all listed wire lines carried 0% duty for goods from China. No anti-dumping duty, countervailing duty or suspension was recorded. The tariff attaches import and export waste controls to these lines. Environment Agency guidance says waste shipment controls apply only where the material is waste. For a China shipment, confirm the applicable requirement with your customs broker, particularly for recovered wire or offcuts.

Give your broker the batch chemistry, maximum cross-sectional dimension and dispatch country to confirm the commodity code. Do not classify wire solely from its commercial grade name. Duty and import VAT are separate; see UK import duty and VAT.

Purity, drawing condition and spool specification

Specify pure or alloyed molybdenum, chemical composition, diameter or other cross-sectional dimensions, tolerances, surface finish and drawn or annealed condition. Describe the intended bending, winding or furnace use so the factory can propose material against that application. Ask for a mill certificate linked to each production lot.

Agree spool dimensions, winding direction, permitted joints, coil identification and protective packing. Approve a sample in the intended process before accepting bulk stock. Ask a chemicals adviser to consider whether UK REACH registration applies to the imported material rather than assuming the wire description settles its status.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 500 kg of molybdenum wire for workshop stock, illustrative under 8102 96 00 19, invoiced at £30,000 free on board, with £800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £30,800. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £30,800, so it is £6,160. 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

Chemistry: match each spool's lot identification to the mill certificate and check molybdenum content and agreed impurities against the order.

Dimensions: measure diameter along sampled lengths and around the cross-section; check variation, straightness where specified and net weight.

Surface and handling: inspect for cracks, scoring, oxidation and kinks; trial the agreed bend or winding operation on a sample.

Packing: check winding, spool integrity, moisture protection and batch labels. Record findings during quality inspection and repeat the checks on arrival.

What goes wrong

Wire can match the nominal diameter yet crack during winding if its working or annealing condition differs from the approved sample. Loose winding, damaged spool flanges and unsupported coils can introduce kinks. A chemistry certificate without matching spool identification leaves the delivered batch uncertain.

Hold suspect spools apart from accepted stock. Photograph defects, retain labelled samples and compare the delivered chemistry, dimensions and handling behaviour with the agreed specification before using the batch.

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.