Sourcing tantalum sputtering targets from China
Tantalum sputtering targets within heading 8103 carry 0% UK duty from China, with no listed trade remedy. Check UK REACH registration applicability before importing; the tariff also attaches waste controls, so confirm the route for spent targets. Cambridge China Bridge sources tantalum sputtering targets.
Duty and classification for tantalum targets
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 6 November 2026, heading 8103 covers tantalum and its articles, including waste and scrap. The listed Chinese-origin goods all carry 0% duty, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no listed suspension. The table distinguishes finished articles, manufacturing inputs and waste; these are not interchangeable descriptions of a finished target.
The tariff attaches import and export waste controls to every listed line. For spent targets from China, ask your customs broker to confirm the applicable waste procedure before shipment. Where notification controls apply to imports into England, the exporter must seek consent from the competent authority in the dispatch country. Do not treat the scrap line as an alternative declaration for new targets.
Confirm the commodity code using the target's composition, machining and backing assembly. See the wider tantalum guide for other forms. Import VAT is normally 20%; confirm with HMRC or your customs broker which duties, charges and destination expenses should be included in the taxable value alongside the customs value; see UK import duty and VAT.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other tantalum articles, including finished targets subject to classification | 8103 99 90 00 | 0% | None |
| Tantalum plate and sheet for target blanks | 8103 99 10 00 | 0% | None |
| Unwrought tantalum and powder for target manufacture | 8103 20 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Tantalum target waste and scrap for recovery | 8103 30 00 00 | 0% | None |
Target purity, microstructure and chamber fit
Specify tantalum purity, individual impurity limits, density and grain size, with agreed test methods and acceptance criteria. State whether the order is a bare target, a machined blank or a target bonded to a backing plate. Give the supplier the chamber drawing, including thickness, mounting features, sealing faces and usable erosion area.
For bonded targets, agree the backing material, bonding method, bond inspection and compatibility with the chamber's cooling arrangement. Ask for batch chemistry and microstructure evidence linked to the supplied material, rather than a generic purity certificate.
HSE says UK REACH registration applies to substances on their own, substances in mixtures and certain substances in articles. Arrange an applicability assessment for the supplied target and its intended use before importing; do not infer its chemical regulatory status from its tariff code.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 100 kg of tantalum plate for machining target blanks 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
Material: match target identification to batch chemistry, impurity results, density and grain-size reports against the agreed specification.
Geometry: measure thickness, flatness, diameter or profile, mounting features and backing dimensions against the approved chamber drawing.
Bond and surface: review the agreed bond inspection report; check sealing faces and sputtering surfaces for scratches, contamination and handling damage.
Packing and traceability: check protective wrapping, separation of contact surfaces and batch identification before booking targets into stock. Use an agreed inspection brief.
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What goes wrong
A purity statement can hide missing impurity results or refer to a different batch. A target can meet its external dimensions yet have the wrong backing geometry, uneven thickness or a poorly evidenced bond. Surface contamination and packing damage can undermine an otherwise acceptable order.
Approve the drawing and evidence package before production. Agree how failed material, a failed bond or an unsuccessful chamber trial will be investigated, and retain the target identification and test records. Ask for the smelter identity where your customers require responsible sourcing evidence.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on tantalum sputtering targets from China?
The supplied tariff reading shows 0% duty throughout heading 8103, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty. Confirm the finished target's commodity code and budget for import VAT.
Which commodity code covers a finished tantalum target?
Other tantalum articles appear under 8103 99 90 00, while plate and sheet appear under 8103 99 10 00. Ask your broker to classify the actual target, particularly if it includes a backing assembly.
What should a tantalum target certificate show?
Ask for batch identification, tantalum purity, individual impurity results, density and grain size, with the agreed test methods. For bonded targets, also request bond inspection evidence.
Can I import spent tantalum targets as scrap?
Do not assume the scrap code settles permission to import. The tariff attaches waste controls; ask your broker to confirm the procedure for the material, recovery destination and route from China.