Refractory bricks and blocks from China
Refractory bricks, blocks and tiles from China, whether magnesia, silica, fireclay or high-alumina, pay 0% UK duty with no anti-dumping duty. Classes follow the ISO 10081 series, and each lot should be tested for density, porosity, cold crushing strength and refractoriness under load against the data sheet. Cambridge China Bridge sources refractories for kilns, furnaces and stoves.
Magnesia, silica, fireclay and high-alumina refractory bricks and blocks from China pay 0% UK duty. ISO 10081 classes, tests, silica dust, example.
Zero duty on every class
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 26 September 2026, refractory bricks, blocks, tiles and similar refractory ceramic constructional goods of heading 6902 carried 0% duty on goods from China, whether containing more than 50% of magnesium, calcium or chromium compounds, 93% or more silica, fireclay with more than 7% but less than 45% alumina, other alumina or silica grades, or other refractories, with no anti-dumping measure.
Refractory castables, mortars and ramming mixes are preparations of heading 3816, other refractory ceramic goods such as crucibles and nozzles are in 6903, and insulating bricks of siliceous earth are in 6901. Confirm the commodity code from the chemical analysis on the data sheet.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Over 50% Mg, Ca or Cr compounds, such as magnesia bricks | 6902 10 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Silica bricks, 93% or more silica | 6902 20 10 00 | 0% | None |
| Fireclay bricks, over 7% but under 45% alumina | 6902 20 91 00 | 0% | None |
| Other alumina or silica bricks, such as high-alumina | 6902 20 99 00 | 0% | None |
| Other refractory bricks, such as silicon carbide | 6902 90 00 00 | 0% | None |
Classes, installation and dust
Dense shaped refractories are classified by the ISO 10081 series according to their chemistry, so an order should name the class, the alumina or magnesia content, the maximum service temperature and the data sheet values to be met. Magnesia bricks pick up moisture and hydrate if they are stored damp, so packing and storage matter as much as the recipe.
Cutting and grinding silica and fireclay bricks releases respirable crystalline silica, which has a workplace exposure limit in the HSE's EH40 list, so installers need dust control. Refractory ceramic fibre products are a different material: aluminosilicate refractory ceramic fibres are on the UK REACH candidate list, which triggers duties to inform customers when an article contains them.
Worked duty example
An invented example rather than a quote: a container of high-alumina firebricks, commodity code 6902 20 99 00, bought for £14,000 free on board, with £3,000 of freight and insurance, so £17,000 is the value customs works from. No duty is due on refractory bricks; import VAT at 20% of £17,000 is £3,400. If you are VAT-registered, that VAT is normally reclaimable. Refractory castables and mortars are chemical preparations of heading 3816, so a mixed order may be split across codes. See calculating UK import duty and VAT for the method.
What goes wrong
Refractories fail in the first heat-up. Bricks with lower alumina than the data sheet soften under load, bricks fired too low shrink and open the joints, magnesia bricks hydrate and crack from damp storage, and poor thermal shock resistance causes spalling in kilns that cycle. Corners and edges arrive broken, and dimensions vary so joints cannot be kept thin.
Test sampled bricks for chemical analysis by XRF to ISO 12677, bulk density and apparent porosity to ISO 5017, cold crushing strength to ISO 10059-1, refractoriness under load to ISO 1893 and permanent change in dimensions on heating to ISO 2478, measure dimensions and warpage against the drawing, and check pallets for shrink-wrap, corner protection and dryness.
Cambridge China Bridge sources refractory bricks and shapes by the pallet or container for kiln builders, foundries, glass and ceramics makers and stove and oven makers. See our container programmes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on firebricks from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 26 September 2026, refractory bricks and blocks of every class carried 0% from China, with no anti-dumping duty.
How do I know refractory bricks match the data sheet?
Test density and porosity to ISO 5017, cold crushing strength to ISO 10059-1 and refractoriness under load to ISO 1893.
Why did my magnesia bricks crack before use?
Magnesia hydrates if stored damp; ship and store the bricks sealed and dry.
Is cutting firebricks a health risk?
Yes. It releases respirable crystalline silica, which has a workplace exposure limit in HSE's EH40.