Sourcing tantalum foil from China

Tantalum foil duty and waste controls

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 6 November 2026, heading 8103 covers tantalum and its articles, including waste and scrap. Foil falls within 8103 99 10 00 alongside other wrought mill products. The foil formats in the table share this commodity line; they are purchasing formats, not separate tariff subdivisions.

The recorded duty for goods from China is 0%, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension listed. The tariff attaches both import and export waste controls. For foil scrap or rejected material shipped from China, confirm the applicable requirement with your customs broker. Environment Agency guidance for England makes the importer responsible for correct waste classification and shipment controls.

Confirm the material and its condition against the commodity code guide. Use the wider tantalum guide for other product forms. Import VAT is 20%; the duty and VAT guide explains the calculation.

Specify foil thickness, condition and chemistry

State whether you need unalloyed tantalum or a tantalum alloy, and agree chemistry limits, including oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen. Define thickness and its tolerance, width, cut dimensions, roll or flat-sheet presentation, and the supplied material condition. Tell the mill whether the foil will be bent, formed or welded.

Agree surface cleanliness, acceptable scratches, pinholes, edge burrs and waviness using an approved sample. Ask for a lot-specific mill certificate and identify the producer and smelter. Specify protective interleaving and packing that prevents creasing, edge damage and surface contamination.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 100 kg of tantalum foil; illustrative order, not a quotation under 8103 99 10 00, invoiced at £45,000 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £45,900. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £45,900, so it is £9,180. 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

Chemistry: match the mill certificate to the delivered lot and compare composition with the purchase specification. Arrange independent oxygen and nitrogen testing for initial deliveries.

Dimensions: measure thickness across the width and along sampled material with equipment suitable for thin foil. Check width, cut dimensions and edge condition against agreed tolerances.

Surface and forming: inspect for scratches, pinholes, creases and contamination. Bend or form a sample using the intended process before releasing the lot.

Traceability and packing: match package labels to certificates, retain the lot identity after cutting, and check interleaving and roll support on arrival. Define acceptance checks in the inspection brief.

What goes wrong

A nominal thickness on a quotation leaves local variation unresolved. Creases, burrs and scratches can make thin foil unsuitable for forming or assembly. Agree measurable acceptance criteria and inspect the packed material before dispatch.

Excess oxygen, nitrogen or hydrogen can make tantalum brittle, while surface contamination can spoil welding. A certificate without a matching lot identity leaves these risks unresolved. Hold questionable material for testing and keep rejected foil separate while its intended use or disposal is clarified.

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.