Sourcing nickel-chromium alloy bars from China

2% duty on nickel-chromium alloy bars

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 7505 covers nickel bars, rods, profiles and wire. Nickel-chromium alloy bars fall within the nickel-alloy bars, rods and profiles line, 7505 12 00 00. The bar shapes in the table share this commodity line.

For goods from China, the alloy-bar line carries 2% duty. The supplied tariff snapshot records no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control on that line. The wire lines carry waste controls; for a shipment involving waste wire, confirm the requirement with your customs broker.

Confirm the composition and supplied form before choosing the commodity code. A wire description should not be used for bar stock. For the wider heading and resistance-wire buying checks, see nichrome resistance wire.

Specify the alloy and bar condition

Specify the alloy designation and agreed chemical composition, including nickel, chromium and any other alloying elements. State the intended application and the material specification your customer or design requires. Agree diameter or section, dimensional tolerances, straightness, cut length, machining allowance and surface condition.

State whether the bars should be annealed, cold drawn or supplied in another agreed condition. Ask for a mill certificate showing the heat number, composition and required mechanical properties. Keep each heat identifiable through cutting and packing.

UK REACH generally applies to individual substances on their own, in mixtures and in articles. Before importing or selling the bars in Great Britain, ask a chemicals compliance adviser to assess the obligations for the supplied form, composition and intended use.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 2 tonnes of nickel-chromium alloy round bars under 7505 12 00 00, invoiced at £46,000 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £46,900. Duty at 2% is £938. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £47,838, so it is £9,567.60. Import taxes total £10,505.60; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £938 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Material: sample each heat for positive material identification and compare the results with the ordered alloy and mill certificate. Agree laboratory analysis where the specified elements need a different test method.

Dimensions: measure the section at several positions, check cut length and straightness, and confirm that the machining allowance remains available.

Condition: compare the certificate and agreed test results with the ordered condition and properties. Examine surfaces and ends for cracks, laps, scale and handling damage.

Traceability: match bundle tags to heat certificates and the packing list. Check that different heats remain separated and that packing protects straightness and surfaces.

What goes wrong

A similar alloy name can conceal different chemistry. Generic certificates, mixed heats and tags added after cutting can prevent you from identifying the material actually supplied. Hold acceptance until the certificate, tag and sampled material agree.

Bars can also arrive bowed, oversize, undersize or in the wrong condition for machining. Put the acceptance checks in the purchase order and inspect before dispatch and on arrival. Use the quality inspection guide to plan the checks.

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.