Sourcing wood-cement formwork panels from China

Duty on wood-cement permanent formwork

Heading 6808 covers panels, boards, tiles, blocks and similar articles of vegetable fibre, straw or wood shavings, chips, particles, sawdust or other wood waste agglomerated with cement, plaster or other mineral binders. This guide concerns wood-cement panels left in place after concrete has been poured.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, commodity code 6808 00 00 00 carries 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control. The product variants in the table share this commodity line.

Confirm the material composition and binder using our commodity code guide. For other products in this heading, see wood wool and cement-bonded boards. Allow separately for import VAT and clearance costs when checking the duty and VAT calculation.

Specify the panel and the concrete pour

Specify the wood constituent, cement binder, panel thickness, density, dimensions, edge joints, cut-outs and surface finish. State whether the panel serves only as permanent shuttering or is expected to contribute to the finished wall. Ask the project designer to agree wet-concrete pressure, support spacing, ties, fixings, bracing and the proposed pouring method before approving a sample.

For a declaration of performance and CE or UKCA marking, check the applicable designated standard or technical assessment for the exact product and intended use. Products not covered or not fully covered by a designated standard may be covered by a technical assessment document. Ask for evidence matching the supplied thickness, joints, fixings and wall build-up, including the specified fire and moisture performance.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 1,500 m² of wood-cement permanent formwork panels under 6808 00 00 00, invoiced at £13,500 free on board, with £3,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £17,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £17,000, so it is £3,400. 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

Documents: check that product identity, intended use, performance declaration and supporting reports match the ordered panel. Compare the supplied marking with the agreed conformity route.

Dimensions and joints: measure sampled panels against the drawings, check flatness and squareness, and trial-fit adjoining edges, corner pieces and tie holes.

Strength and fixings: compare density and panel condition with the approved sample. Check fixing locations and reject cracked panels, crumbling edges or damaged tie holes.

Arrival and storage: photograph damaged wrapping, wet pallets and broken corners before unloading. Check for swelling, mould and bowed panels; store flat and protected from rain. Use our inspection guide to agree the checks before shipment.

What goes wrong

A supplier may offer an acoustic or lining board without evidence for the proposed formwork arrangement. A report for a different thickness or fixing layout leaves the buyer without a clear basis for judging resistance to wet-concrete pressure. Ask the designer to review the complete arrangement rather than accepting a board sample alone.

Wet packing can leave panels swollen or bowed, while transit damage breaks corners and weakens fixing points. Poorly matched joints can leak concrete paste. Agree replacement criteria, packaging and a trial assembly before ordering, then record defects on arrival before the panels reach the pour.

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.