Sourcing ceramic fibre blankets from China

Duty and blanket classification

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 6 November 2026, heading 6806 covers mineral wools and mineral insulating materials and articles. The supplied lines all carry 0% duty from China, with no recorded anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspensions. The table shows blanket forms against candidate lines; repeated codes identify forms within the same tariff line.

The UK Trade Tariff attaches import and export waste controls to 6806 10 00 00 and 6806 90 00 00. Waste shipment controls apply only when the material is waste. For waste from China entering England under notification controls, the exporter applies to the dispatch authority for consent. Confirm the applicable requirements with your customs broker before buying used blankets or production scrap.

Ask your broker to confirm the commodity code using fibre composition, blanket construction and intended use. Do not choose a code from the supplier's product name alone. See the mineral wool and expanded clay guide for the wider heading.

Specify fibre chemistry and heat performance

Specify the fibre composition, density, thickness, width, roll length and permitted dimensional variation. Describe the furnace or kiln application, operating temperature, thermal cycling and contact with gases or chemicals. Ask the factory to distinguish its temperature classification from the recommended continuous operating temperature.

Request thermal conductivity data, shrinkage results with the test temperature and exposure duration, and evidence for the exact supplied grade. Agree whether the blanket is needled, contains a binder or has a facing. Ask for handling information and an asbestos-free material declaration.

Check whether the fibre composition appears on the UK REACH Candidate List and establish the applicable supplier duties before resale in Great Britain. Inclusion on that list brings supplier obligations. HSE advises avoiding inhalation of fibre dust and skin contact when handling ceramic fibre kiln insulation.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative pilot consignment of refractory ceramic fibre blanket rolls under 6806 10 00 00, invoiced at £12,000 free on board, with £4,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £16,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £16,000, so it is £3,200. 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 the grade, fibre composition and batch references across packaging, order documents and test reports.

Dimensions: measure unpacked thickness, width and length against the agreed specification; compare mass and density with the factory's declared values.

Condition: check for tears, thin patches, uneven needling, contamination and damp or damaged packaging.

Evidence: match thermal and shrinkage reports to the supplied grade and retain handling information. Agree sampling through the quality inspection guide.

What goes wrong

A temperature classification is treated as a continuous service rating, or shrinkage results omit the exposure conditions. The buyer then lacks evidence that the blanket suits the intended furnace duty. Agree the operating conditions and acceptance evidence before approving the grade.

Compressed rolls can conceal thin areas, poor recovery or uneven density. A substituted fibre composition can also change the handling information needed. Inspect unpacked samples and reconcile batch documents before accepting the consignment.

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.