Sourcing woven steel quarry screens from China

Zero duty on woven quarry screen cloth

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 7314 covers iron or steel wire cloth, grill, netting and fencing, and expanded metal. For woven quarry screen cloth, the relevant supplied lines are other woven cloth under 7314 19 00 00 and stainless steel woven cloth under 7314 14 00 00. The table separates purchasing formats that share a code.

Both lines carry 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied snapshot lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, steel measure, suspension or attached import control on these lines. Import VAT is separate from customs duty; see UK import duty and VAT.

Confirm the material and construction against the commodity-code guide, particularly for screens supplied with hooks or frames. Send the broker drawings and photographs of the finished article. For related woven cloth, see stainless steel woven filter mesh.

Specify the aperture and screen-deck fit

State the clear aperture rather than relying on a mesh name. Specify square or slotted openings, slot direction, wire diameter, steel grade, crimp pattern and agreed dimensional tolerances. Describe the aggregate, wet or dry operation and the existing screening deck. Keep an approved sample and drawing for comparison.

For hooked screens, define the overall dimensions, usable screening area, hook profile, opening direction and tensioning direction. Match these to the deck rails and clamps. Ask for material records linked to the batch and fitting instructions. HSE states that suppliers must supply safe work equipment; check fit and handling risks as well as screening performance.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of 60 carbon steel woven quarry screen panels; FOB and freight values are illustrative under 7314 19 00 00, invoiced at £9,000 free on board, with £4,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £13,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £13,000, so it is £2,600. 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

Apertures: measure clear openings across the centre and edges against the drawing; check slot direction and look for distorted openings.

Wire and weave: measure wire diameter, match material records to batch labels, and inspect crimp consistency, loose wires and broken strands.

Hooks and fit: compare hook profiles, panel dimensions and squareness with the approved drawing; trial-fit a sample on the intended deck.

Arrival condition: check for bent hooks, flattened crimp, corrosion and sharp projecting ends; match bundle labels and quantities to the packing list.

What goes wrong

Ordering by nominal mesh size can produce the wrong clear aperture when the supplier changes wire diameter. Distorted openings affect separation, while an incorrect hook profile or tensioning direction prevents proper seating. A panel that fits loosely can move and wear at its supports.

An unapproved wire-grade substitution can change wear and fatigue behaviour. Poor crimp lets wires move, and unsupported bundles can arrive with bent hooks. Agree rejection criteria before production and record measurements and photographs on arrival. Use quality inspection to check the agreed specification before dispatch.

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.