Sourcing tungsten crucibles from China
Tungsten crucibles from China, when classified as other tungsten articles, carry 0% UK duty; the heading's duty range is uniformly 0%. Confirm the finished article's code and whether the shipment is goods or waste before dispatch. Cambridge China Bridge sources tungsten crucibles.
Tungsten crucible duty and classification
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 6 November 2026, heading 8101 covers tungsten and its articles, including waste and scrap. Finished tungsten crucibles are candidates for 8101 99 90 00, subject to confirmation. The table also shows manufacturing inputs, which should not be used as alternative codes for finished crucibles.
All listed lines carry 0% duty for goods from China, with no residual anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspensions recorded. The tariff attaches waste import and export controls to the finished-article and powder lines. Waste shipment controls apply only to waste; confirm the applicable requirement for any used or discarded crucibles with your customs broker. The worked-material line carries registration controls; the published background identifies their application to consignments from Laos and Thailand.
Confirm the commodity code using the composition, manufacturing stage and intended use. Tungsten carbide classifies elsewhere. See the related tungsten evaporation boats guide for wider heading context and the import duty and VAT guide for the calculation method.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other tungsten articles, including finished crucibles subject to classification | 8101 99 90 00 | 0% | None |
| Unwrought tungsten, including simply sintered bars and rods for machining | 8101 94 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Worked tungsten bars, rods and sheet for crucible manufacture | 8101 99 10 00 | 0% | None |
| Tungsten powder for crucible manufacture | 8101 10 00 00 | 0% | None |
Specify the crucible and its operating conditions
State whether you need pure tungsten or an alloy, the composition and density acceptance criteria, and whether the crucible is sintered or machined. Supply a drawing covering the internal cavity, rim, base, wall thickness, radii and mating surfaces. Agree surface finish, cleanliness and batch identification.
Tell the factory what material the crucible will hold, the furnace atmosphere, heating method and heating and cooling cycle. Agree a sample trial in your own equipment before accepting production. Ask for batch composition results rather than a generic material certificate.
UK REACH generally applies to substances in articles as well as substances supplied separately. Review the composition and any coatings for your intended supply in Great Britain; do not treat a purity certificate as a complete compliance assessment.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative batch of small machined tungsten crucibles for laboratory trials under 8101 99 90 00, invoiced at £30,000 free on board, with £800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £30,800. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £30,800, so it is £6,160. 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 the batch certificate to the crucibles and check composition and density against the purchase specification.
Geometry: measure cavity depth, rim diameter, wall and base thickness, and the surfaces that locate in the furnace holder.
Soundness: inspect the rim, cavity and base for cracks, chips and visible pores; agree further testing where internal defects matter.
Cleanliness and packing: inspect for machining residue and contamination, and check that individual supports prevent contact damage in transit.
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What goes wrong
A substituted alloy or a porous batch can pass a superficial visual check. Thin walls, chipped rims and machining cracks can make a crucible unsuitable for the agreed process. Keep the approved drawing, sample and batch test results together, and quarantine arrivals that do not match.
A crucible can fit the holder yet fail the buyer's process trial because the atmosphere, charge or heating cycle differs from the conditions discussed with the factory. Record those conditions and agree the acceptance trial 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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on tungsten crucibles from China?
The supplied tariff reading gives 0% duty for other tungsten articles under 8101 99 90 00. Confirm that classification for your crucible; no residual anti-dumping or countervailing duty is recorded.
Which commodity code covers tungsten crucibles?
8101 99 90 00 is the candidate for finished tungsten crucibles. Confirm the composition and finished form with your customs broker; powder and bar codes describe manufacturing inputs.
What should I ask a tungsten crucible factory for?
Ask for a drawing, agreed composition and density, batch analysis, manufacturing route and a sample for your furnace trial. Include the charge material, atmosphere and heating cycle in the enquiry.
Do waste controls apply to new tungsten crucibles?
Waste shipment controls apply only if the material is waste. The tariff attaches a waste control to the candidate code, so confirm its treatment with your customs broker, especially for used or discarded crucibles.