Sourcing perforated steel sheets from China
Uncoated cold-rolled perforated steel sheets under 7209 90 20 00 carry 0% UK duty from China in the supplied tariff snapshot. The heading covers iron or non-alloy steel at least 600 mm wide; match the material and processing to the code. Cambridge China Bridge sources uncoated cold-rolled perforated steel sheets.
Duty on perforated sheets
Heading 7209 covers cold-rolled flat products of iron or non-alloy steel, 600 mm or wider, without cladding, plating or coating. Its perforated line is 7209 90 20 00. The table also identifies unperforated feedstock for comparison; those descriptions do not describe sheets imported after perforation.
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, the supplied record gives the perforated line a 0% third-country duty for China. It records no steel measure, anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control for that line. These are the recorded measures for the stated date, rather than a guarantee for a later declaration.
Confirm the commodity code using the material certificate, width and drawing showing the goods as imported. For the broader product family, see cold-rolled steel sheet. Ask your broker to recheck the declaration-date measures and review supply-chain evidence for Russia sanctions.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uncoated cold-rolled perforated sheets, width 600 mm or more | 7209 90 20 00 | 0% | None |
| Unperforated feedstock comparison: sheets over 1 mm but under 3 mm thick | 7209 26 90 00 | 0% | None |
| Unperforated feedstock comparison: sheets 0.5 mm to 1 mm thick | 7209 27 90 00 | 0% | None |
| Unperforated feedstock comparison: sheets under 0.5 mm thick | 7209 28 90 00 | 0% | None |
Specify the perforation and the remaining metal
Specify steel grade, temper, thickness, sheet dimensions and flatness after punching. The drawing should show hole shape, size, pitch, stagger direction, open area, unperforated borders and fixing-hole positions. Agree burr limits, burr direction and which face will be visible. Ask for a punched sample from the proposed material, rather than an unperforated steel sample.
Agree protective oil, compatibility with later painting or welding, interleaving and moisture protection. For building applications, ask a compliance adviser to identify the relevant construction-product standard or assessment route before approving the specification. CE marking remains available for construction products in Great Britain; where legitimately affixed, an additional UKCA mark is unnecessary.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 20 tonnes of uncoated cold-rolled perforated steel sheets; illustrative order under 7209 90 20 00, invoiced at £18,000 free on board, with £2,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £20,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £20,000, so it is £4,000. 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 bundle identities to the agreed grade and mill certificate; measure thickness on intact metal between holes.
Pattern: measure hole size, pitch, borders and fixing positions against the drawing; check the stagger direction and blocked or incomplete holes.
Finish: inspect burrs on the agreed face, torn hole edges, scratches and rust; check flatness after punching and trial-fit the sample in its frame.
Packing: check dry wrapping, interleaving, edge protection and bundle restraint before dispatch; inspect for trapped moisture and bent corners on arrival. Use a written inspection brief.
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What goes wrong
A matching hole diameter can hide the wrong pitch or border, leaving fixing holes misaligned. Punching can distort thin sheet, while worn tooling leaves burrs and torn edges. Approve the complete drawing and a representative punched sample, and agree how flatness will be measured before accepting production.
A Chinese processing address alone does not establish the steel's supply-chain history. UK sanctions prohibit relevant products incorporating Russian-origin steel after third-country processing, subject to applicable exceptions or licensing. Ask for verifiable origin and processing records and have your broker resolve uncertain provenance before shipment; supplier declarations may require further supporting evidence.
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 perforated steel sheets from China?
The supplied tariff record gives 7209 90 20 00 a 0% duty rate, with no additional trade remedies recorded. This applies to the uncoated cold-rolled perforated product described here.
Can I use the code for the unperforated sheet?
Confirm the classification of the goods as imported. The supplied tariff has a specific perforated line, 7209 90 20 00; the unperforated table entries are feedstock comparisons.
What should a perforated sheet drawing show?
Show grade, thickness, sheet size, hole shape and size, pitch, stagger direction, borders, fixing positions, burr direction and flatness tolerances.
Does perforated steel sheet need UKCA marking?
For building use, establish the applicable construction-product route before ordering. Legitimately CE-marked construction products can be supplied in Great Britain without an additional UKCA mark.