Sourcing razor blade blanks from China

UK duty on razor blade blanks

Heading 8212 covers razors and razor blades, including razor blade blanks in strips. The supplied record expressly includes these blanks under 8212 20 00 00. The table separates buying specifications within that tariff line, rather than different commodity codes. For finished shaving products, see the razors and razor blades guide.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 5 October 2026, razor blade blanks in strips carry 2% duty for goods from China. The supplied record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspensions or attached import controls on this line. Import VAT is normally 20%; see UK import duty and VAT.

Confirm the commodity code using drawings, photographs and a description of the processing already completed. Describe whether the shipment contains identifiable blade blanks in strips or plain steel strip intended for later manufacture.

Specify the blank and processing stage

Agree the steel grade, thickness, blank profile, strip width, hole positions, pitch and flatness on a signed drawing. State whether punching, heat treatment, edge grinding and coating are included or will be carried out by your own processor. Record the supplied edge condition and which surfaces must remain free from burrs.

Specify hardness, surface finish, corrosion protection and packing against your downstream process. Approve samples through the intended forming, grinding and assembly operations. Check whether protective oil can be removed by your cleaning process without affecting coating adhesion.

UK REACH generally applies to chemical substances in articles. Obtain alloy and coating composition information and assess the relevant obligations for supply in Great Britain. If you finish the blanks into consumer blades, those products must be safe in normal or reasonably foreseeable use.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 100,000 razor blade blanks in strips for a blade-finishing business under 8212 20 00 00, invoiced at £9,000 free on board, with £800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £9,800. Duty at 2% is £196. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £9,996, so it is £1,999.20. Import taxes total £2,195.20; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £196 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Geometry: check thickness, profile, hole positions, pitch and flatness against the approved drawing; trial the strip in the intended tooling.

Material: match material certificates to the shipment, check sample hardness and examine surfaces for corrosion, cracking and inconsistent finish.

Processing: inspect punched edges for burrs and distortion; compare the supplied heat-treatment and grinding stage with the purchase specification.

Packing: check strip separation, moisture protection and batch identification on arrival. Look for bent blanks and contact damage; agree sampling through quality inspection.

What goes wrong

A supplier may quote plain strip while the buyer expects punched blanks, or supply hardened material when further forming was planned. Hole-position errors disrupt feeding and assembly. Burrs damage tooling, uneven heat treatment affects grinding, and damp packing leaves corrosion that becomes visible after finishing.

Keep an approved drawing and processing sample with the order. Compare shipment samples through the same downstream operations before releasing the batch for production. Identify rejected material by batch so it cannot be mixed into accepted stock.

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.