Sourcing tungsten evaporation filaments from China
Tungsten evaporation filaments within heading 8101 carry 0% UK duty from China across the relevant lines. Confirm whether the shipment is wire or a finished tungsten article; attached waste controls apply only if the material is waste. Cambridge China Bridge sources tungsten evaporation filaments.
Duty and classification for evaporation filaments
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 8101 covers tungsten and its articles, including waste and scrap. This guide concerns tungsten evaporation filaments and their wire feedstock. The table includes conditional wire descriptions and other tungsten articles; it does not establish that every finished filament belongs under the same code. Confirm the commodity code using the composition, drawing and supplied form.
The relevant lines carry 0% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty recorded and no suspensions listed. Elsewhere in the heading, 8101 99 10 00 carries an anti-dumping registration control. The published background identifies this with consignments from Laos and Thailand, rather than direct consignments from China. For related forms, see tungsten evaporation boats.
The tariff attaches import and export waste controls to the wire and other-article lines shown. Waste shipment controls apply only when the material is waste. For waste dispatched from China into England under notification controls, the exporter must apply to the dispatch country's competent authority for consent. The importer should confirm the applicable procedure with their customs broker before shipment, particularly for used or contaminated filaments.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine tungsten wire meeting the tariff purity, size and resistance conditions | 8101 96 00 10 | 0% | None |
| High-purity tungsten wire meeting the tariff composition and size conditions | 8101 96 00 20 | 0% | None |
| Other tungsten wire, including feedstock for evaporation filaments | 8101 96 00 90 | 0% | None |
| Other tungsten articles, a candidate line for finished evaporation filaments | 8101 99 90 00 | 0% | None |
Filament geometry, composition and vacuum trials
Specify tungsten composition, any deliberate additions, wire diameter, strand arrangement, coil shape, active length, terminal spacing and tolerances. Supply a drawing of the mounting points and identify the material to be evaporated. Agree the cold resistance measurement method, cleaning, packaging and batch certificate contents.
Approve samples in your evaporation equipment using the intended charge and operating settings. Record fit, heating behaviour, sagging, breakage and deposits. Agree acceptance criteria from that trial before ordering production quantities. A visually similar filament can have different resistance or mounting geometry.
Check the UK REACH position against the supplied product and its intended use. HSE states that substances in articles may require registration if intended to be released during use. Ask the supplier to distinguish the tungsten filament from any supplied coating or evaporation charge rather than assuming they have the same compliance position.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 500 finished tungsten evaporation filaments; illustrative order, subject to classification 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
Geometry: measure wire diameter, coil dimensions and terminal spacing against the approved drawing; check fit without forcing the terminals.
Material and traceability: match batch markings to composition certificates and check that declared additions match the order.
Surface and packing: inspect for cracks, kinks, residues and distorted coils; check that individual packing protects the active section.
Electrical and vacuum trial: measure cold resistance using the agreed method and trial samples against the approved heating and evaporation behaviour. Define these checks in the inspection brief.
Working out your own order? Send us the product on WhatsApp and we reply the same working day: WhatsApp us
What goes wrong
Wrong wire diameter, strand arrangement or active length can change heating behaviour despite a similar appearance. Bent terminals prevent proper mounting, damaged coils can break during handling, and surface residues can contaminate the chamber or deposited film.
A substitute composition or an unapproved charge can undermine a successful sample trial. Keep the approved drawing, composition declaration and trial record together, and investigate batch differences before putting the delivery into routine use.
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 evaporation filaments from China?
The relevant heading 8101 wire and other-article lines carry 0% duty for goods from China. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty is recorded on those lines.
Which commodity code applies to finished tungsten evaporation filaments?
8101 99 90 00 is a candidate for other tungsten articles. Wire has separate lines. Confirm the supplied form and composition with your customs broker rather than classifying by the product name alone.
What should I specify when ordering evaporation filaments?
Specify composition, wire diameter, strand arrangement, coil geometry, terminal spacing, cold resistance and cleaning. Approve samples with the intended evaporation material in your equipment.
Do new tungsten evaporation filaments need waste consent?
Waste shipment controls apply only if the material is waste. The tariff attaches a waste control, so confirm the requirement with your broker if the shipment includes used or contaminated filaments.