Sourcing silver wire from China

Silver wire duty and classification

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 10 October 2026, heading 7106 covers silver, including silver plated with gold or platinum, in unwrought, semi-manufactured or powder form. Semi-manufactured silver under 7106 92 00 00 carries 0% duty for goods from China. The wire forms in the table share this commodity line. For silver supplied as casting grain, see our silver casting grain sourcing guide. For silver used in electroplating, see our silver electroplating anode sourcing guide. For investment silver, see our silver bullion bar sourcing guide. For silver supplied as rods, see our silver rod sourcing guide. For silver supplied as mesh, see our silver mesh sourcing guide.

The supplied record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing measure, suspension or attached import control for the semi-manufactured line. Its waste import control is attached to the powder line instead; if ordering powder, confirm the requirement with your customs broker. For flake-shaped material, see our silver flakes sourcing guide.

Confirm the alloy, manufacturing stage and product description through finding your commodity code. Finished jewellery needs a separate classification and hallmarking assessment; see the silver jewellery and silver guide.

Specify alloy, profile and temper

State the silver content and alloy composition, rather than ordering by colour or the word silver alone. Distinguish solid silver alloy from silver-plated base-metal wire. Specify round, square, half-round or flat profile, dimensions and tolerances, temper, surface finish, coil weight and whether joints are acceptable. For brazing applications, see our uncoated silver brazing wire guide.

Agree a sample for the intended bending, wrapping or forming operation. Ask for batch-linked composition results and identify each coil by alloy and temper. Official hallmarking guidance lists raw material, including wire, as exempt from compulsory hallmarking. Assess any finished silver articles separately before sale.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 200 coils of silver wire, with coil weights agreed separately; illustrative values under 7106 92 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

Composition: compare batch documents with independent silver-content testing of production samples.

Dimensions: measure diameter or profile dimensions along sampled lengths, checking ovality and variation against the agreed tolerance.

Temper and surface: repeat the agreed forming trial and inspect for cracks, scratches, burrs, tarnish and concealed joints.

Coils and weight: check net metal weight separately from reels, verify batch labels and trial unwinding. Plan checks using the quality inspection guide.

What goes wrong

Wire can match the sample's appearance while differing in alloy or temper. Too-hard wire can crack during forming; too-soft wire can lose its shape. Uneven dimensions affect repeat production, while rough surfaces remain visible after polishing.

Coil weight can include the reel, and tangled winding or undisclosed joints can interrupt processing. Agree net-weight reconciliation, winding condition and rejection criteria before ordering. Keep suspect coils separate until composition and forming results have been checked.

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.