Sourcing steel cable trays from China

UK duty and classification for steel cable trays

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 8 October 2026, heading 7326 covers other articles of iron or steel. The selected wire and residual fabricated-steel lines carry 2% duty for goods from China. The supplied records show no steel measure, anti-dumping duty, countervailing duty or suspension on these lines. The table repeats the residual code for different tray designs; these are classification candidates, rather than separate tariff subdivisions.

The tariff attaches an import prohibition and an export restriction concerning torture and repression goods to 7326 90 98 90. Official guidance prohibits importing or exporting the listed prohibited goods. For cable trays from China, ask your customs broker to confirm the requirement against the goods description and linked tariff footnotes before declaration. A control flag on a shared code does not establish the classification of your tray.

Confirm the commodity code using drawings, material and manufacturing details. The published background identifies heading 7326 within UK CBAM from 1 January 2027; ask the factory for steel-source and emissions information. For structural frames and fabricated supports, consult the wider steel structures and fabrications guide. See UK import duty and VAT for the calculation method.

Specify the tray, coating and support arrangement

State whether you need perforated sheet, solid-bottom sheet or welded wire basket. Give usable internal width, side height, length, steel grade, sheet or wire thickness, hole pattern and bend geometry. Specify covers, couplers, brackets, fasteners and any bonding accessories separately. Approve an assembled sample with the actual fittings, rather than a tray length alone. For threaded rod fittings, see our guide to sourcing steel threaded rods.

Describe the installation environment and agree the coating process, coating thickness acceptance criteria and treatment of cut edges and welds. Ask for load-test evidence showing the tray design, support spacing, joint position and loading arrangement. Have the project designer check that the evidence matches the installation.

Before selling a tray system for a building project, confirm the applicable product assessment and marking route with your testing adviser. For construction products, official guidance says products not covered or not fully covered by a designated standard may be covered by a technical assessment document. Use testing and certification support to check the exact product and intended use. For cavity wall ties, see our stainless steel wall tie sourcing guide.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of 50 steel cable tray lengths under 7326 90 98 90, invoiced at £5,000 free on board, with £700 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £5,700. Duty at 2% is £114. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £5,814, so it is £1,162.80. Import taxes total £1,276.80; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £114 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Dimensions: measure usable width, side height, thickness, straightness and hole positions against the approved drawing; trial-fit bends, covers and couplers.

Edges and welds: check punched edges, wire ends and welds for burrs, sharp projections, cracks and loose intersections that could damage cable insulation.

Coating: check coverage at welds, corners and cut edges; measure coating thickness against the purchase specification and examine packed surfaces for abrasion.

Arrival condition: check for bent sidewalls, crushed ends, rust and missing fittings; compare batch identification with the agreed load evidence. Arrange quality inspection before shipment as well.

What goes wrong

A tray can match the catalogue width yet fail to connect because hole pitches, couplers or bend radii differ. Thinner material and changed perforations can also make the supplied tray different from the load-tested sample. Freeze the drawing and component list, approve the complete assembly and require written approval before substitutions.

Sharp punched edges snag cables, poor basket welds separate and unprotected surfaces rust during transit. Nested lengths can arrive twisted or with flattened ends. Agree edge finishing, coating inspection and packing restraints, then trial-fit arrival samples before releasing the batch to installers.

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.