Sourcing P20 mould steel bars from China

Duty depends on the bar's processing condition

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 7228 covers other alloy steel bars and rods, sections and hollow drill bars. This guide covers P20 mould steel bars only. The table gives possible tool steel lines, subject to confirmation of chemistry and processing: hot-rolled and forged lines list 0%, the cold-finished line lists 50%, and the other tool steel line lists 0%.

The supplied tariff records 22.50 % residual anti-dumping duty against the hot-rolled tool steel line. The wider published guide explains that this measure covers high-fatigue-performance concrete reinforcing bar, with other bars declared using additional code 8W01. Ordinary P20 mould bars should therefore be checked against that exclusion. The cold-finished line has 0% within an available steel quota and 50% outside it. These selected records list no suspensions, countervailing duties or attached import controls.

A commodity code is needed for the customs declaration. Give your broker the heat chemistry, section, production route and subsequent processing, then confirm the commodity code. See the wider alloy steel guide for heading coverage. Confirm with HMRC or your customs broker whether and when these steel imports fall within the UK carbon border adjustment mechanism; ask the mill for emissions data and review the UK carbon border adjustment guide.

Specify P20 chemistry, hardness and machining allowance

Put the agreed P20 chemical composition into the purchase specification. Do not accept a supplier's alternative grade as equivalent without checking it against that specification. State whether the bars are supplied prehardened or in another agreed condition, with the hardness range and test locations. Include section dimensions, length, straightness, machining allowance and whether surfaces are black, peeled, ground or milled.

Ask for a heat-linked inspection certificate showing chemistry, heat treatment condition and test results. For mould cavities that need polishing or texturing, agree a sample machining and finishing trial. Specify ultrasonic acceptance criteria where internal soundness matters, and identify any welding or surface treatment planned after delivery. Use factory verification to check the mill's ability to supply the agreed condition.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 20 tonnes of P20 mould steel bars, subject to classification under 7228 60 20 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 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £20,000, so it is £4,000. 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

Traceability: match bar markings, bundle labels and heat numbers to the inspection certificates, including any cut pieces.

Chemistry and hardness: compare heat results with the agreed composition and independently sample chemistry and hardness; check hardness at the specified locations.

Dimensions and soundness: measure the section, length, straightness and machining allowance; review ultrasonic results against the agreed acceptance criteria.

Surface and packing: check for cracks, rust, decarburised surfaces, damaged ends and displaced protective wrapping; record defects before releasing bars for machining.

What goes wrong

A P20 label can hide a substituted composition or an unspecified heat treatment condition. Uneven hardness can change machining behaviour, while internal defects or inclusions may appear only when the cavity is cut or polished. Missing heat markings make a certificate difficult to match to the delivered stock. Agree sample machining and polishing checks before accepting a repeat supply.

Commercial failures include treating all P20 bars as the same tariff line or assuming quota will remain available at arrival. Keep verifiable supply-chain documentation available: official guidance says traders should be prepared to demonstrate a steel product's supply chain for sanctions compliance. Request the mill's production and input-origin records before shipment, alongside the technical checks in our inspection guide.

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.