Sourcing Silver Bullion Bars from China
Silver bullion bars from China carry 0% UK duty across the unwrought and semi-manufactured lines. Bullion is exempt from compulsory hallmarking, but buyers should verify silver content, net weight and the refinery's batch records. Cambridge China Bridge sources silver bullion bars.
UK duty on silver bullion bars
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 7106 covers silver in unwrought, semi-manufactured or powder form, including silver plated with gold or platinum. The unwrought and semi-manufactured lines relevant to bullion bars both carry 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duties, suspensions or attached controls for these bar lines.
The separate powder line carries an import waste control. Waste shipment controls apply only when the material is waste. For powder or waste supplied from China, the UK Trade Tariff attaches the control and the importer should confirm the requirement with their customs broker. This guide concerns saleable bullion bars.
The table shows buying variants under the same commodity lines, rather than separate tariff subdivisions. Confirm the manufacturing form and commodity code with your broker before shipment. Marks alone should not determine your choice. See the wider silver guide for other silver products. For leaf format, see our silver leaf sourcing guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unwrought silver bullion bars, plain | 7106 91 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Semi-manufactured silver bullion bars, plain | 7106 92 00 00 | 0% | None |
Specify silver content, bar weight and batch identity
Specify the silver fineness, net metal weight and permitted tolerance, dimensions, cast or worked form, surface finish, refinery identity and any serial numbers. Agree whether weight means total bar weight or contained fine silver. Request an assay report tied to the production batch, and agree how samples will be selected and independently tested before payment.
The Hallmarking Act 1973 exempts raw material and bullion from compulsory hallmarking. For genuine bullion bars, plan independent purity verification rather than assuming a jewellery hallmark is required. Agree protective packing, a bar-by-bar weight list and a sealed handover record. Check the producer through factory verification.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Trial batch of unwrought silver bullion bars, individually weighed (illustrative) under 7106 91 00 00, invoiced at £30,000 free on board, with £800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £30,800. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £30,800, so it is £6,160. 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
Purity: compare independent assay results with the specified fineness and the production batch report; agree testing that can assess the metal beneath the surface.
Weight: weigh bars on a calibrated balance, record individual net weights and reconcile the total with the packing list.
Identity: match refinery marks, serial numbers where specified and batch references to the invoice and assay report.
Condition and packing: check cracks, cavities, damaged edges, moisture and broken seals; photograph discrepancies before releasing stock. Plan checks using the inspection guide.
Working out your own order? Send us the product on WhatsApp and we reply the same working day: WhatsApp us
What goes wrong
Failure risks include underweight bars, silver content below the ordered fineness, plated substitutes and assay paperwork that belongs to another batch. Surface screening alone can miss a different core. Use independently selected samples and an agreed test method that addresses this risk.
A bar may pass the metal test but still be difficult to resell if the intended buyer does not accept its refinery or documentation. Agree buyer acceptance before ordering. Quarantine disputed bars and preserve their packaging, weight records and sample identity while arranging a retest.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For own-brand ranges, see sourcing for brands.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on silver bullion bars from China?
The supplied tariff record shows 0% for unwrought silver under 7106 91 00 00 and semi-manufactured silver under 7106 92 00 00, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duties.
Do silver bullion bars need a UK hallmark?
Genuine bullion is exempt from compulsory hallmarking under the Hallmarking Act 1973. Independent assay is still a sensible buying check.
How do I check a silver bar is genuine?
Match its weight, dimensions and identity to the order, then arrange independent purity testing capable of checking beneath the surface. A stamped fineness alone does not verify the metal.
Which commodity code should I use for silver bars?
The supplied lines are 7106 91 00 00 for unwrought silver and 7106 92 00 00 for semi-manufactured silver. Give your broker the manufacturing details before choosing the code.