Sourcing oil-tempered spring wire from China
Oil-tempered spring wire within heading 7217 has recorded UK duty rates of 0% to 50% from China, depending on coating. Uncoated lines show 50%; the published steel-wire guide explains quota relief. Confirm non-alloy chemistry and actual coating before choosing the code. Cambridge China Bridge sources oil-tempered spring wire.
Duty depends on chemistry and coating
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 7217 covers wire of iron or non-alloy steel. This guide concerns oil-tempered spring wire only where its chemistry fits that heading. Alloy and stainless steel wire belong elsewhere. The table separates high-carbon uncoated wire from genuinely zinc-coated variants; oil used during heat treatment is not evidence of a zinc coating.
The supplied tariff records show 50% for the uncoated table lines and 0% for the zinc-coated lines, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duties or suspensions recorded. The published steel-wire guide describes 0% quota relief for uncoated wire. Ask your broker to confirm availability before relying on it. The heading's other-wire lines also carry waste import and export controls; confirm their application with your broker if those lines or waste material are involved.
Confirm the commodity code using chemistry, coating and maximum cross-sectional dimension. For notified waste imports into England, the exporter must apply to the dispatch country's competent authority for consent. Ordinary spring-wire purchasing should start with a clear description of new production material. See the wider heading guide for a different wire application.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uncoated non-alloy wire, carbon at least 0.6%, section exceeding 3 mm | 7217 10 90 10 | 50% | None |
| Uncoated wire, carbon at least 0.6%, other | 7217 10 90 90 | 50% | None |
| Zinc-coated non-alloy wire, carbon at least 0.6%, section exceeding 3 mm | 7217 20 90 10 | 0% | None |
| Zinc-coated wire, carbon at least 0.6%, other | 7217 20 90 90 | 0% | None |
Specify heat treatment and spring performance
State the steel grade and full chemistry, diameter and tolerance, tensile-strength range, oil-quenching and tempering condition, surface finish and intended spring application. Ask the mill to distinguish oil-tempered wire from hard-drawn wire and to identify any alloying additions before agreeing the tariff heading.
Agree acceptance criteria for surface cracks, decarburisation, mechanical tests and trial coiling. Specify coil weight, inner and outer dimensions, winding direction and corrosion protection. Keep heat and coil identities linked to test results. Ask for supply-chain documentation: official guidance says traders should be prepared to demonstrate the goods' supply chain.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 20 tonnes of uncoated non-alloy oil-tempered spring wire under 7217 10 90 90, invoiced at £18,000 free on board, with £2,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £20,000. Duty at 50% is £10,000. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £30,000, so it is £6,000. Import taxes total £16,000; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £10,000 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Identity: match coil labels and heat numbers to chemistry, heat-treatment records and mechanical test results.
Dimensions: measure diameter and ovality along sampled coils against the agreed tolerance.
Surface and performance: inspect for seams, cracks, rust and handling damage; arrange agreed decarburisation and mechanical tests, then trial the wire on your spring-coiling equipment.
Packing: check winding, ties, coil dimensions, moisture protection and safe unloading arrangements. Use an agreed inspection brief.
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What goes wrong
A supplier substitutes hard-drawn wire, mixes heats or supplies unevenly tempered material. The wire may coil differently from the approved sample or fail the agreed strength tests. Surface seams and decarburisation can undermine spring performance even when diameter is correct. Retain samples and compare production results with the approved trial.
Poor winding causes tangles and stoppages; damp packing causes corrosion. Another error is treating every oil-tempered grade as non-alloy steel or assuming heat-treatment oil makes it coated wire for customs purposes. Resolve chemistry and coating before shipment, and budget using the confirmed duty rather than an assumed quota allocation.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on oil-tempered spring wire from China?
The supplied tariff records show 50% for uncoated high-carbon non-alloy wire and 0% for zinc-coated variants. The published steel-wire guide describes quota relief for uncoated wire; confirm availability with your broker.
Does all oil-tempered spring wire fall under 7217?
No. This heading covers iron or non-alloy steel wire. Check the complete chemistry: an alloy grade needs classification under another heading, even if the supplier calls it spring wire.
What should I ask the Chinese mill to provide?
Ask for heat-linked chemistry, oil-quenching and tempering records, mechanical test results and coil identities. Agree surface-defect and decarburisation checks, and approve a trial on your spring-coiling equipment.
Is oil-tempered wire the same as hard-drawn spring wire?
No. Specify the required heat-treatment condition explicitly. Compare production certificates and trial-coiling results with the approved sample so the supplier cannot substitute a different condition.