Sourcing titanium sputtering targets from China
Titanium sputtering targets and blanks have a 6% base UK duty under the relevant worked-titanium lines; qualifying alloy plate blanks can receive a 0% suspension. Confirm classification from the delivered form and check the UK REACH position before importing. Cambridge China Bridge sources titanium sputtering targets.
Duty depends on the delivered target or blank
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 8108 covers titanium and its articles, including waste and scrap. The table distinguishes candidate lines for finished sputtering targets and their plate or bar blanks. It is not a list of interchangeable target codes. For wider material coverage, see titanium sheet.
The selected lines have 6% base duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty shown. Titanium alloy plate and sheet under 8108 90 50 55 has a 0.00 % suspension, excluding mixtures, preparations and products made up of different components containing those products. Do not apply the plate suspension automatically to a machined or bonded target. Import VAT is normally 20%.
The supplied tariff record attaches import and export waste controls to the selected bar and other-article lines. Waste shipment controls apply only where the material is waste. For spent targets or reclamation shipments from China, confirm the requirement with your customs broker before dispatch. Confirm the commodity code using the composition, drawing, machining and backing details.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other titanium articles: candidate line for finished targets | 8108 90 90 99 | 6% | None |
| Other titanium plate and sheet: possible target blanks | 8108 90 50 90 | 6% | None |
| Titanium alloy plate and sheet: possible alloy target blanks | 8108 90 50 55 | 6% | None |
| Other titanium bars and rods: possible target machining stock | 8108 90 30 90 | 6% | None |
Specify purity, geometry and backing
State whether you need pure titanium or a titanium alloy, the purity calculation method, individual impurity limits and the analysis method. Specify oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, carbon and iron separately. Ask for batch-specific analysis and a retained sample rather than accepting a generic material certificate.
Provide the cathode drawing, target shape, thickness, flatness, mounting features and surface finish. For bonded targets, identify the backing material, bonding method, usable temperature range and agreed bond inspection method. Agree clean handling, protective packing and a trial in your coating process.
UK REACH registration applies to substances, mixtures and certain substances in articles. Check the position for the target as supplied before import; machining alone is not a reason to assume the chemical rules are settled. Arrange testing and certification support around the agreed material and process.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: A small batch of finished titanium sputtering targets, illustrative 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
Chemistry: match the target batch to its analysis certificate and independently check the agreed purity and impurity limits on a retained sample.
Fit: measure thickness, diameter or outline, flatness and mounting details against the approved cathode drawing.
Surface and bond: inspect for scratches, embedded particles, cracks and edge damage; check bonded areas using the agreed inspection method.
Traceability and packing: match each target to its batch record, inspect seals and protective faces, and keep damaged or contaminated pieces separate pending review.
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What goes wrong
A headline purity figure can hide an excluded gas content or an unsuitable impurity profile. A copied certificate can describe another batch. Correct chemistry also does not establish cathode fit: thickness errors, distorted faces and misplaced mounting features can prevent installation.
Surface contamination and a poor backing bond can undermine coating trials. Agree acceptance evidence before production, inspect before shipment and repeat the arrival checks before releasing targets to the process. Separate unused target purchases from spent-target recovery transactions when checking the attached 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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on titanium sputtering targets from China?
The selected worked-titanium lines have 6% base duty. Qualifying titanium alloy plate blanks have a 0.00 % suspension. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty is shown; confirm the finished target's code.
Which commodity code should I use for a finished titanium target?
8108 90 90 99 is a candidate for other titanium articles, not a confirmed code for every target. Give your broker the composition, drawing, machining and backing details.
What should a titanium target analysis certificate show?
The actual batch, purity calculation method, analysis method and agreed impurity results, including oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, carbon and iron. Match the certificate to the delivered target.
How do I check a bonded titanium sputtering target?
Check the backing material, dimensions, flatness and mounting details, then use the agreed bond inspection method. Validate an accepted sample in your coating process before releasing the batch.