Sourcing quartzite paving slabs from China

Duty on quartzite paving slabs

Heading 6801 covers natural stone setts, curbstones and flagstones, except slate. Quartzite paving slabs fitting that description use 6801 00 00 00. The slab descriptions in the table share this single tariff line; they describe purchasing specifications rather than separate commodity codes.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 4 October 2026, the supplied line carries 0% duty for goods from China. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or import control is listed in the supplied tariff data. Import VAT is separate from customs duty.

Confirm the commodity code using the intended use, photographs and surface treatment. Heavily worked or polished stone can fall under heading 6802. For the wider quartz and quartzite product family, see our quartz and quartzite guide.

Specify the quartzite, face and underside

Record the stone name, quarry and petrographic description, together with an approved sample showing the accepted colour range. Specify the face finish, edge treatment, laying sizes and thickness tolerances. State whether the underside must be calibrated, and agree how thickness is measured on a naturally uneven face.

Ask the relevant construction products authority to confirm whether BS EN 1341 applies to the external natural stone paving slabs and what declaration of performance and CE or UKCA marking requirements apply for supply in Great Britain. Ask for flexural strength, water absorption, freeze-thaw, abrasion and slip resistance results matching the supplied stone and finish, with performance agreed for the intended project.

Agree the laying pattern and any factory cutting before production. Cutting paving requires effective dust controls, with respiratory protective equipment as a backup measure. Include these handling considerations in the information passed to the receiving contractor.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 25 tonnes of palletised quartzite paving slabs, illustrative order under 6801 00 00 00, invoiced at £9,000 free on board, with £3,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £12,500. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £12,500, so it is £2,500. 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

Stone identity: compare pieces from different pallets with the retained sample in daylight; check colour range, veins, cracks, rust spots and loose surface layers.

Dimensions: measure length, width and thickness against the agreed tolerances; check edge squareness and the underside where calibration was specified.

Performance documents: match the declaration, marking and test reports to the stone, finish and intended use. A report for a different surface finish does not establish the ordered finish's performance.

Packing and arrival: check pallet stability, strapping, separators and edge protection before loading. On arrival, photograph damaged packing and inspect slabs for broken corners and cracks before laying. See quality inspection explained.

What goes wrong

A supplier changes the quarry or stone bed after sample approval, so colour and performance differ. Natural split faces arrive with excessive high points, or nominally calibrated slabs vary in thickness. Installers then have to sort pieces and adjust the bedding. Agree acceptance criteria for surface variation and thickness before placing the order.

Other failures include cracked edges from poor packing, surface layers coming loose, rust staining and frost damage. Smooth patches can also differ from the approved finish. Keep the retained sample and batch records, and resolve mismatched documents or damage before releasing the slabs for the project.

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.