Sourcing titanium anode baskets from China

Finished baskets: 6% duty

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 8108 covers titanium and its articles, including waste and scrap. For finished titanium electroplating anode baskets, 8108 90 90 99 is the candidate residual articles line: goods from China carry 6% duty, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension on that line.

The table distinguishes finished baskets from separately imported fabrication stock. The listed residual bar and sheet lines carry 6%; titanium alloy sheet has a conditional 0% suspension. A material suspension does not establish relief for a finished basket. The tariff also attaches import and export waste controls to the basket candidate line. Waste shipment controls apply only to waste; for a China shipment, confirm any applicable requirement with your customs broker, especially for discarded or contaminated baskets.

Confirm the commodity code using the drawing, material composition and condition as imported. For related basket sourcing, see nickel electroplating anode baskets. Budget separately for 20% import VAT using the UK import duty and VAT guide.

Specify mesh, hooks and bath compatibility

Specify the titanium grade and material standard, basket shape, usable depth, mesh opening, mesh thickness, bottom construction and hook geometry. Give the factory a drawing of the tank and anode rail interface. State the anode charge shape and size, loaded weight, operating current, bath chemistry and temperature, and whether anode bags are included.

Ask for material certificates linking the mesh, frame and hooks to their material batches. Agree weld acceptance, edge finishing, contact surfaces and a sample fit check before production. Assess compatibility with your actual plating process rather than accepting a general corrosion-resistance claim.

For workplace supply in Great Britain, section 6 of the Health and Safety at Work Act applies where more specific product safety law does not apply. As part of your purchasing brief, request instructions covering suspension, loading, electrical contact, cleaning and handling.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 2 large custom titanium electroplating anode baskets; illustrative order only under 8108 90 90 99, invoiced at £2,000 free on board, with £800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £2,800. Duty at 6% is £168. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £2,968, so it is £593.60. Import taxes total £761.60; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £168 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Material: match certificates and material batch references to the agreed titanium grade; arrange independent composition checks where grade substitution would affect the process.

Fit and retention: measure basket dimensions, hook spacing and mesh openings against the drawing; check rail fit and retention of the intended anode charge.

Welds and contacts: inspect mesh seams, bottom joints and hook attachments for cracks or incomplete welds; check contact surfaces and loaded suspension against the agreed acceptance method.

Finish and packing: check for sharp edges, trapped debris and steel contamination; inspect anode bags for snagging and hooks for transport distortion. Use an agreed inspection brief.

What goes wrong

A basket can match its outside dimensions while failing at the interface: hooks sit poorly on the rail, mesh releases small anode pieces, or rough welds tear the bag. Weak hook attachments can distort under the loaded weight. Check a loaded sample and the intended bag together before accepting the production design.

Material certificates may cover the frame but omit the mesh or hooks. Mixed materials, steel contamination and poor electrical contact can undermine the intended performance. Require component traceability, protect contact surfaces during packing and record arrival defects before putting baskets into service.

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.