Sourcing niobium sheets from China

Niobium sheet duty and classification

Heading 8112 covers niobium and other listed minor metals and their articles. For niobium sheets, the relevant candidate is 8112 99 50 90, niobium articles, other. The table shows sheet purchasing forms sharing that tariff line, rather than separate commodity codes.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, the recorded duty for goods from China is 0%. The supplied record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control for this line. Import VAT at 20% still applies.

Confirm the commodity code against the composition and supplied form before shipment. Do not describe rolled sheet as unwrought metal. For the other metals and forms within this heading, see the minor-metals guide.

Specify chemistry and sheet condition

State whether you need pure niobium or an alloy, the agreed chemistry limits, thickness, width, length and dimensional tolerances. Specify annealed or worked condition, flatness, edge finish and acceptable surface defects. Describe the intended cutting, forming or joining process so the factory can propose a sample for your trial.

Ask for a mill certificate linking chemistry and any agreed mechanical tests to the heat or batch supplied. Agree independent chemistry testing and sample retention where material identity matters. UK REACH applies to substances on their own, in mixtures and in articles; review the chemical compliance position for the material and intended supply.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: A trial batch of cut-to-size niobium sheets; illustrative FOB value and freight, not a quotation under 8112 99 50 90, invoiced at £2,000 free on board, with £800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £2,800. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £2,800, so it is £560. 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

Identity: match sheet or bundle identification to the mill certificate and purchase order; compare independent chemistry results with the agreed composition.

Dimensions: measure thickness across the sheet and check width, length, squareness and flatness against the drawing.

Surface and edges: inspect for scratches, pits, cracks, embedded contamination and cutting burrs; compare the finish with the approved sample.

Packing and receipt: check separators, rigid support and protection against bending; photograph damage and keep batch identities distinct during unpacking. Define these checks in the inspection brief.

What goes wrong

A certificate without a matching batch identity cannot establish which sheets were tested. Unagreed alloy substitution, uneven thickness, bowed sheets and damaged edges can make otherwise usable metal unsuitable for the intended parts. A sample also gives little assurance if the production batch arrives in a different condition.

Put acceptance criteria and the agreed test method in the order. Check the production batch before dispatch, then repeat dimensional and surface checks on arrival. Hold material with unexplained certificate differences or damage apart from accepted stock while the supplier investigates.

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.