Sourcing prestressing steel strands from China
Prestressing steel strand lines in heading 7312 carry 0% UK customs duty from China, with no trade remedy shown in the supplied tariff snapshot. Classify the actual strand by material, construction and coating, rather than borrowing a rope code. Agree strength and relaxation evidence before ordering. Cambridge China Bridge sources prestressing steel strands.
Duty on prestressing steel strands
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 7312 covers stranded wire, ropes, cables and similar iron or steel products that are not electrically insulated. The selected strand lines all show 0% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, steel measure or suspension listed. The former Chinese prestressing wire and strand anti-dumping duty ceased to apply on 2 August 2021.
The other-coated strand line shown attaches an import waste control, and also an export waste control. For goods shipped as waste under notification controls, shipment cannot proceed until the competent authorities of destination, dispatch and transit have consented. Confirm with your customs broker whether a consignment from China falls within these controls and which documents it needs.
Confirm the commodity code using the maximum cross-sectional dimension, wire count, steel composition and coating. These are classification candidates, not interchangeable codes for every strand. Do not apply the separate steel-rope anti-dumping position automatically to prestressing strand. See the wider steel wire rope and cables guide for that product family.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uncoated high-carbon non-alloy steel strand within the specified wire-count limit | 7312 10 61 91 | 0% | None |
| Other uncoated steel strand | 7312 10 61 99 | 0% | None |
| Other zinc-coated steel strand | 7312 10 65 99 | 0% | None |
| Other-coated high-carbon non-alloy steel strand within the wire-count limit | 7312 10 69 91 | 0% | None |
Specify strength, relaxation and tendon compatibility
State whether the strand is for pretensioning or post-tensioning, and whether it is bare, galvanised, coated or supplied with grease and sheathing. Specify nominal diameter, metallic area, wire arrangement, surface finish, breaking force, proof force, elongation and relaxation acceptance criteria. Have the project engineer approve compatibility with the intended anchors and stressing equipment.
Agree the test methods, sampling plan and coil-to-test-report traceability before manufacture. Ask for relaxation evidence matching the ordered grade and processing route, alongside tensile results. For GB supply, establish the applicable designated standard or technical assessment before agreeing any marking claim. Official guidance says products not covered or fully covered by a designated standard may be covered by a technical assessment document. Arrange testing and certification around the exact product.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 10 tonnes of uncoated prestressing steel strand under 7312 10 61 91, invoiced at £22,000 free on board, with £2,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £24,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £24,000, so it is £4,800. 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 coil labels, heat references and batch records to the purchase order and test reports.
Geometry: check diameter, metallic area, wire arrangement and lay against the agreed specification; inspect for loose wires, kinks and damaged ends.
Performance: compare tensile and relaxation results with the approved acceptance criteria, and take traceable samples for the agreed independent tests.
Condition: inspect for corrosion, pitting and coating damage; for sheathed strand, check sheath continuity and grease coverage. Record wet packaging before unloading.
Working out your own order? Send us the product on WhatsApp and we reply the same working day: WhatsApp us
What goes wrong
A tensile certificate alone does not show whether the supplied strand meets the agreed relaxation criteria. Reports can refer to a different batch or processing route, while mixed coils lose their link to the mill records. Hold affected coils until the supplier resolves the mismatch.
Incorrect diameter or surface treatment can undermine anchor compatibility. Kinks, pitting and torn sheathing also need an engineer's assessment before use. Agree handling, dry storage and protective packing with the factory, and retain coil identities after cutting so remaining stock stays traceable.
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 prestressing steel strand from China?
The selected heading 7312 strand lines show 0% customs duty, with no trade remedy or suspension listed in the supplied tariff snapshot. Confirm the exact code and measures before shipment.
Does Chinese prestressing strand attract steel-rope anti-dumping duty?
Do not assume the rope measure applies to strand. The former prestressing wire and strand duty ceased to apply on 2 August 2021, and the selected strand lines show no trade remedy.
What test reports should I request for prestressing strand?
Request batch-linked tensile and relaxation results against the engineer-approved specification. Match the strand grade, dimensions, coating and processing route to the reports and agree independent sampling.
Can I order coated strand using the bare-strand code?
Confirm classification again when the coating changes. The tariff separates uncoated, zinc-coated and other-coated strand, with further distinctions for steel composition and wire count.