Sourcing tin-antimony alloy ingots from China

UK duty on tin-antimony master-alloy ingots

Heading 8001 covers unwrought tin, including tin alloys. For tin-antimony master-alloy ingots confirmed as tin alloys, the relevant line is 8001 20 00 00. The table shows purchasing variants within that same line, rather than separate tariff subdivisions.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 7 October 2026, the supplied tariff record shows 0% duty for tin alloys from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspensions or attached import controls. Chemical registration checks remain a separate consideration.

Give your customs broker the full composition certificate and a description of the ingot form to confirm the commodity code. For the wider tin-alloy family, see pewter alloy ingots.

Specify antimony content and melt traceability

Specify the target antimony content, its permitted variation, the tin balance and limits for lead, copper and other unwanted metals. State whether additional alloying elements are acceptable. Agree ingot weight, dimensions, notches and the sampling method before production.

Ask for an analysis certificate tied to each melt, with actual results rather than a generic grade sheet. Agree how laboratory samples will be taken across the shipment and retain material for resolving disputed results.

For a substance you have not previously imported, HSE says you need to consider whether UK REACH registration is required. Review the constituent substances before ordering. UK REACH also requires businesses to identify and manage the risks of substances they place on the Great Britain market.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 900 kg of tin-antimony master-alloy ingots; order, FOB value and freight are illustrative under 8001 20 00 00, invoiced at £27,000 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £27,900. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £27,900, so it is £5,580. 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

Composition: compare laboratory results for tin, antimony and agreed impurities with the purchase specification and each melt certificate.

Traceability: match ingot markings, bundle labels and certificates; investigate mixed or missing melt identities.

Condition: inspect for heavy oxide, embedded foreign material, cracks and moisture; agree acceptance criteria with the receiving foundry.

Packing: check bundle security, pallet condition, net weight and ingot dimensions against the packing list and handling plan.

What goes wrong

A master alloy can arrive with the wrong antimony content, unwanted lead or mixed melts under a single certificate. These failures make the addition rate unreliable and can push the finished alloy outside its agreed composition. Appearance alone cannot establish chemical composition.

Hold suspect bundles apart, retain labelled samples and compare independent results with the agreed sampling method before accepting or blending the material. Use the quality inspection guide to plan checks before dispatch.

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.