Sourcing PVC profiles and plastic rods from China
Plastic monofilament over 1 mm thick, rods, sticks and profile shapes from China, including uPVC window and door profiles, trims, edge banding and nylon or acrylic rods, pay 6% UK duty, with no anti-dumping duty. PVC window profiles are specified to BS EN 12608, and the finished windows must meet the Building Regulations. Cambridge China Bridge sources profiles and rods.
PVC window profiles, trims, plastic rods, sticks and monofilament over 1 mm pay 6% UK duty from China. Window standards and a worked duty example.
A flat 6%
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 25 September 2026, monofilament with a cross-section over 1 mm, rods, sticks and profile shapes of polyethylene, PVC and other plastics carried 6% duty on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure.
Assembled windows and doors are in heading 3925, and tubes and hoses in 3917; confirm the commodity code.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Of polymers of ethylene, other | 3916 10 00 90 | 6% | None |
| Of polymers of vinyl chloride, other | 3916 20 00 99 | 6% | None |
| Of condensation polymers, other | 3916 90 10 90 | 6% | None |
| Of addition polymers, other | 3916 90 50 90 | 6% | None |
| Of other plastics | 3916 90 90 00 | 6% | None |
Windows and standards
Unplasticised PVC profiles for windows and doors are specified to BS EN 12608, which classifies wall thickness, weathering and impact performance. The profile is a component: the fabricated window must meet the Building Regulations for thermal performance and, where required, security, and windows are construction products where a designated standard applies. Ask the extruder for the BS EN 12608 test report and the reinforcement specification.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 5,000 metres of PVC window profile under 3916 20 00 99, invoiced at £8,000 free on board, with £1,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £9,500. Duty at 6% is £570. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £10,070, so it is £2,014. Import taxes total £2,584; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £570 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
What goes wrong
Profiles fail through the formulation. Too little UV stabiliser or cheap filler makes white profile yellow and chalk outdoors, and thin walls crack at welded corners in cold weather. Colour-foiled profiles delaminate if the adhesive is wrong. Dimensions drift between batches, so gaskets and hardware stop fitting.
At inspection, measure wall thickness and chamber dimensions against the drawing, test a welded corner, check colour against the approved sample and protective film, and confirm lengths and bundling.
Cambridge China Bridge sources PVC profiles, trims and plastic rods, with standards, formulation and dimensional checks settled before the order. See how our sourcing service works.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on PVC window profiles from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 25 September 2026, PVC profiles of heading 3916 carried 6% duty from China, with no anti-dumping duty.
Which standard covers uPVC window profiles?
BS EN 12608, which classifies wall thickness, weathering and impact performance.
Are finished windows in heading 3916?
No. Assembled plastic windows and doors are in heading 3925.
Why do white profiles yellow?
Too little UV stabiliser or cheap filler in the formulation; ask for weathering test results.