Sourcing stamped pure-nickel tabs from China

UK duty on stamped nickel battery tabs

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, heading 7508 covers other articles of nickel. The relevant line, 7508 90 00 00, carries 0% duty for goods from China, with no recorded anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no tariff suspension. The table shows tab shapes grouped under this same line, subject to confirmation of their classification. For the wider heading, see our nickel foam guide.

The tariff attaches an import control for waste to this line and also records a waste export control. For waste imports into England subject to notification controls, shipment must await consent from the Environment Agency and the other competent authorities involved. If the Chinese shipment includes scrap, discarded tabs or rejected stock, ask your customs broker to confirm its waste status and the applicable procedure before dispatch.

Give your broker the drawing, material composition and photographs to confirm the commodity code. Unworked nickel strip belongs to heading 7506; nickel-plated steel strip has a different classification. Do not classify stamped tabs from the supplier's product name alone. Our import duty and VAT guide explains the calculation.

Specify the tab drawing and weld interface

Specify solid nickel, composition, temper, thickness and tolerances. Supply a controlled drawing showing the outline, slots, holes, bend positions, weld areas and burr direction. Agree edge condition, flatness, surface cleanliness and packaging that prevents bending. Request material certificates traceable to the stock used for stamping, and approve samples through weld pull tests on your own cells and equipment.

UK REACH generally applies to substances in articles as well as substances supplied on their own or in mixtures. Ask for composition information covering the supplied tabs and any surface treatment so that you can assess the relevant obligations before selling them.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 1,000 stamped pure-nickel battery tabs, illustrative order only under 7508 90 00 00, invoiced at £1,200 free on board, with £800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £2,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £2,000, so it is £400. 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

Material: compare composition results with the certificate and inspect a cut or ground edge for a steel core. Surface analysis alone should not be your acceptance check for solid nickel.

Geometry: measure thickness, outline, slot and hole positions, bends and flatness against the approved drawing. Inspect edges for burrs and cracks.

Welding: use production samples for weld pull tests on your own equipment and compare results with the agreed acceptance criteria.

Traceability and packing: match certificates to batch labels, check for moisture, contamination and distorted tabs, and retain identified samples. See our quality inspection guide.

What goes wrong

Nickel-plated steel arrives as pure nickel, certificates do not identify the supplied stock, or stamping leaves burrs and misplaced slots. Distorted tabs may fit the drawing poorly, while oil or oxidation can make welding inconsistent. A satisfactory sample does not establish that the production batch uses the same material and tooling.

Tie acceptance to material identity, drawing measurements and weld trials. Quarantine suspect batches before assembly, and agree how the supplier will investigate defects using retained samples and batch records.

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.