Sourcing sandstone paving circles from China

Duty on sandstone paving circles

Heading 6801 covers natural stone setts, kerbs and flagstones, except slate. Sandstone circle kits made from paving flags fall within this description, subject to confirmation of their working and finish. The table shows product variants covered by the same tariff line. See the wider stone paving, setts and kerbs guide.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 4 October 2026, commodity code 6801 00 00 00 carries 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control. Import VAT is normally 20%; see UK import duty and VAT.

Confirm the commodity code using photographs, the stone description and details of cutting and surface treatment. Heavily worked or polished stone can fall under heading 6802, as explained in the wider guide.

Specify the assembled circle

Agree the quarry and stone name, colour range, surface finish, thickness tolerance and intended use. Supply a drawing showing the finished diameter, centre shape, ring layout, joint allowance and segment schedule. State whether any surrounding square infill is included. Approve a dry assembly of the complete kit rather than accepting a loose stone sample alone.

Confirm with the relevant authority whether the external paving flags fall within BS EN 1341 and whether a declaration of performance and UKCA or CE marking are required. CE marking continues to be accepted in Great Britain. Match the declared slip resistance, flexural strength and freeze-thaw performance to the stone and finish ordered.

Agree packing that keeps each kit identifiable and protects the curved edges. Solid wood packaging used to import goods into Great Britain must meet ISPM15 requirements.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 25 tonnes of palletised sandstone paving circle kits, illustrative only 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

Completeness: check centre pieces, ring segments and any infill against the kit schedule and packing list.

Fit: dry-assemble sampled kits against the drawing; check diameter, joint consistency, curved edges and thickness.

Stone: compare colour and finish with retained samples in daylight; check for cracks, splitting layers, rust spots and chipped corners.

Documents and packing: match performance documents and marking to the supplied stone; check kit identification, pallet stability and edge protection. Use a written inspection brief.

What goes wrong

A circle can contain the correct quantity of stone but still fail to close because segment angles or joint allowances differ. Mixed ring pieces, missing centre flags and unclear packing labels can leave complete-looking pallets with unusable kits. Photograph dry assemblies before packing and keep a segment schedule with each kit.

Quarry changes can alter colour and performance, while uneven thickness makes installation harder. Cracks and edge damage may only become clear when the kit is unpacked. Check incoming stock against the approved assembly and stone samples before distributing it to customers.

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.