Sourcing titanium sheet from China

Titanium sheet duty and suspensions

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 October 2026, heading 8108 covers titanium and articles thereof, including waste and scrap. This guide concerns sheet within the plates, sheets, strip and foil branch. For other forms within the heading, see titanium round bars.

The listed sheet lines carry a standard duty of 6% for goods from China. Codes 8108 90 50 45, 8108 90 50 55 and 8108 90 50 80 show a 0% autonomous tariff suspension; 8108 90 50 90 has none. The suspensions exclude mixtures, preparations and products made up of different components containing these products. The supplied sheet lines show no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no attached import controls.

Confirm the commodity code using composition, thickness, width, length and manufacturing form. Some descriptions overlap, so ask your customs broker to resolve the appropriate line and suspension eligibility. HMRC explains that the commodity code identifies the goods and determines the duty rate.

Specify the sheet, alloy and surface

Write the material grade, alloy composition, delivery condition and agreed product standard into the order. Specify thickness tolerances, width, length, flatness, edge condition and acceptable surface defects. State whether the sheet will be formed, welded or machined, and agree the chemistry and mechanical properties needed for that use.

Request a mill certificate showing the heat number, chemistry and mechanical properties, with markings that remain traceable after sheets are cut. Agree independent testing for the first delivery. UK REACH generally applies to substances on their own, in mixtures or in articles; review the material and any surface treatment with your compliance adviser before sale in Great Britain.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 2 tonnes of titanium sheet; FOB and freight values are illustrative under 8108 90 50 90, invoiced at £58,000 free on board, with £2,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £60,000. Duty at 6% is £3,600. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £63,600, so it is £12,720. Import taxes total £16,320; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £3,600 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Identity: match sheet and bundle heat markings to the mill certificate and purchase order; check chemistry and mechanical results against the agreed grade.

Dimensions: measure thickness across the sheet and check width, length, flatness and edge squareness against the agreed tolerances.

Surface: inspect both faces under good light for scratches, inclusions, dents and contamination; agree which defects require rejection.

Packing: check corner and edge protection, separation between sheets and segregation from steel. Record arrival damage and retain photographs. Set the checks in your inspection brief.

What goes wrong

A certificate can belong to another heat, and the wrong alloy can look similar to the ordered material. Thin sheet can arrive bowed or scratched, while steel contact can contaminate the surface. Check identity and condition before cutting or mixing the delivery into existing stock.

Duty estimates also fail when a supplier's description is treated as proof of suspension eligibility. Keep the material specification and supporting certificates with the classification decision, and have the broker check the precise line before shipment.

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.