Sourcing tantalum mesh from China

Zero duty, with waste controls to check

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 8103 covers tantalum and its articles, including waste and scrap. Finished mesh is a candidate for the other-articles line, 8103 99 90 00, subject to classification confirmation. The table also identifies raw material and scrap lines relevant to mesh production.

Every listed line carries 0% duty for goods from China, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. The tariff attaches import and export waste controls. Waste shipment controls apply only where the material is waste. For mesh scrap or discarded mesh from China, ask your customs broker to confirm the applicable waste procedure before dispatch.

Give your broker the composition, manufacturing method, photographs and intended use to confirm the commodity code. Import VAT is 20%, with valuation explained in our duty and VAT guide. See the wider tantalum guide for other forms of the metal.

Specify woven or expanded tantalum mesh

State whether you need woven wire mesh or expanded sheet mesh. For woven mesh, specify aperture, wire diameter, weave and edge finish. For expanded mesh, specify opening dimensions, strand width, sheet thickness, expansion direction and whether the mesh is flattened. Agree panel or roll dimensions, tolerances and a sample against the drawing.

Specify unalloyed tantalum or the agreed alloy, chemistry, surface condition and batch traceability. Ask for the mill certificate linked to the finished mesh lot and identify the producer and smelter. UK REACH generally covers substances in articles; review the mesh composition and any coating against your intended use.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 100 kg of finished tantalum mesh, subject to code confirmation under 8103 99 90 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

Material: match batch labels to the mill certificate and purchase specification; arrange independent chemistry checks where material identity is critical.

Openings: measure apertures across the panel or roll, alongside wire diameter or strand width and thickness; compare with the agreed drawing.

Workmanship: check for broken wires, torn strands, loose edges, sharp burrs, distortion and blocked openings.

Cleanliness and packing: check for oil, embedded particles and scratches; confirm separators and supports prevent rubbing, crushing and edge damage.

What goes wrong

An aperture description alone leaves room for the wrong construction. Woven mesh and expanded mesh can have similar openings but different stiffness and joining behaviour. Approve a sample in the actual fixture and agree the cutting direction and edge treatment before production.

Wrong chemistry, contaminated surfaces and damaged strands can undermine fabrication. High interstitial content can make tantalum brittle. Keep material certificates tied to production lots and inspect cut edges after forming. Describe scrap separately from usable mesh so the broker can assess the tariff's waste control.

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.