Sourcing steel security bollards from China

Duty on fabricated steel bollards

Heading 7326 covers other articles of iron or steel. The residual line 7326 90 98 90 is a classification candidate for fabricated steel bollards. The table shows different bollard designs sharing that candidate code, rather than separate tariff lines. It does not classify powered assemblies. For structural fabrication, see steel structures and fabrications.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 8 October 2026, the residual line carries 2% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or steel measure recorded. The tariff attaches a torture-goods import prohibition and an export restriction. Official guidance prohibits imports of the listed torture goods; ask your customs broker to confirm the attached requirements against the bollard's description and intended use.

Confirm the commodity code using drawings, material, manufacturing method and operating mechanism before ordering. Confirm with HMRC or your customs broker whether heading 7326 is within the UK carbon border adjustment mechanism and when any requirements apply; ask the fabricator for steel-source and emissions information. Use UK import duty and VAT when calculating the landed cost.

Specify the post, foundation and security claim

State whether the bollard is fixed, removable or manually retractable. Specify steel grade, tube wall thickness, exposed height, cap shape, base plate, anchor-hole pattern or buried root, and the coating system. For removable posts, define the socket, drainage, lock, key arrangement and cover when the post is removed.

Separate parking deterrence from vehicle-impact protection. If impact resistance is part of the purchase, request the complete test report and compare the tested post, spacing, foundation and ground conditions with the proposed installation. Do not accept a photograph of a damaged vehicle as performance evidence.

Suppliers must supply safe work equipment. Agree installation information and maintenance access with the installer before approving the sample. For powered rising bollards, arrange a separate machinery review: most new machinery falls under the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations. Use testing and certification support to define the documentation review.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative batch of fixed steel security bollards, not a quotation under 7326 90 98 90, invoiced at £6,000 free on board, with £700 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £6,700. Duty at 2% is £134. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £6,834, so it is £1,366.80. Import taxes total £1,500.80; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £134 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Dimensions: measure wall thickness, post length, plate thickness and anchor-hole positions against the approved drawing; trial-fit removable posts in their sockets.

Welds and edges: check the post-to-plate joint, cap welds, visible cracks, incomplete welds and sharp edges; compare material certificates with the order specification.

Coating: check coverage inside accessible areas, around welds and beneath plates; measure thickness against the agreed specification and inspect for transport damage or rust.

Operation and packing: try locks, keys and manual movement; check drainage openings, matching sockets and hardware packs. Repeat fit and damage checks on arrival. Arrange quality inspection before shipment.

What goes wrong

A heavy-looking post can conceal a thin tube, while a strong tube can be undermined by a weak plate weld or unsuitable anchors. Missing foundation details leave the installer guessing. Lockable posts can jam when sockets distort or collect water and debris. Compare the complete assembly with the approved sample.

Coatings often fail at welds, cut edges and contact points between stacked posts. Protect finished surfaces and keep locks dry during transport. Reject unsupported impact claims, and check that any report applies to the supplied assembly and its installation.

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.