Sourcing zinc ingots and zinc alloys from China
Unwrought zinc from China, special high grade and other zinc ingots and zinc alloys such as die-casting alloys, pays 0% UK duty on all five lines of heading 7901, with no anti-dumping duty. The tariff splits zinc by purity, so the assay decides the code. Galvanisers and die casters check purity or alloy composition, impurities such as lead, cadmium and iron, and weights.
0% duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 17 November 2026, heading 7901 covers unwrought zinc, split into non-alloy zinc by purity band and zinc alloys. All five lines carried 0% on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure.
Zinc bars, rods and wire are covered in our zinc bars and wire guide, and zinc anodes in our zinc anodes guide; confirm the commodity code from the assay.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zinc, not alloyed, 99.99% or more | 7901 11 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Zinc, not alloyed, 99.95% to under 99.99% | 7901 12 10 00 | 0% | None |
| Zinc, not alloyed, 98.5% to under 99.95% | 7901 12 30 00 | 0% | None |
| Zinc, not alloyed, 97.5% to under 98.5% | 7901 12 90 00 | 0% | None |
| Zinc alloys | 7901 20 00 00 | 0% | None |
Specifying zinc
Specify purity grade or alloy designation with composition limits, lead, cadmium, iron and tin limits, ingot weight and shape, and bundle marking. For die-casting alloys, impurities cause intergranular corrosion, so tight limits and a mill certificate per lot matter. Ask for independent assay on samples taken at loading for large orders.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 20 tonnes of zinc die-casting alloy ingots under 7901 20 00 00, invoiced at £50,000 free on board, with £1,800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £51,800. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £51,800, so it is £10,360. 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
Composition: sample at loading for assay against the grade.
Weight: witness weighing of bundles and check counts.
Condition: check ingots for dross and oxidation. See our quality inspection guide.
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What goes wrong
Zinc orders fail on grade and impurities. Purity is below the grade paid for, alloy impurities cause die-cast parts to swell and crack later, and weights are short.
Cambridge China Bridge sources metals for UK galvanisers and die casters with assay and weighing agreed before payment. See factory verification.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on zinc ingots from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 17 November 2026, all five lines of heading 7901 carried 0% from China.
How does the tariff classify zinc?
Non-alloy zinc by purity band, from 99.99% or more down to 97.5%, and zinc alloys separately.
Why do impurities matter in die-casting zinc?
Lead, cadmium and tin cause intergranular corrosion, which makes castings swell and crack.
Are zinc anodes in heading 7901?
No. Zinc anodes and other articles are heading 7907.