Sourcing zinc roofing tiles from China

Duty and classification for formed zinc tiles

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 4 October 2026, heading 7907 covers other articles of zinc. Formed zinc roofing tiles are candidates for 7907 00 00 90, subject to classification confirmation. This line carries 0% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty or suspension recorded in the supplied snapshot. The roofing formats in the table share this residual line; they are not separate tariff subheadings.

The UK Trade Tariff attaches waste import and export controls. For waste from China imported into England under notification controls, shipment can start only after consent from the Environment Agency and the other competent authorities involved. For an order of finished tiles, ask your customs broker to confirm the waste-control requirement and any declaration needed. Confirm the export-control requirement before any waste return shipment.

Zinc sheet and strip belong to a separate heading, and galvanised steel remains steel. Confirm the commodity code using the material composition, forming details, drawings and intended use. For other formed zinc building products within the wider heading, see our zinc rainwater gutters guide.

Tile folds, roof support and finish

Specify solid zinc or the agreed zinc alloy, sheet thickness, finished dimensions, cover dimensions, fold geometry and tolerances. State whether the tiles need continuous support or are intended to span between supports. Agree the roof pitch, fixing clips, movement allowance, underlay, ventilation and junction details with the roof designer. Approve an assembled sample using the intended clips and substrate.

For Great Britain, construction-product regulations apply to products covered by a designated standard or subject to a UK technical assessment. Confirm which route covers the exact tile and intended use with your compliance adviser. Request the applicable performance declaration, supporting assessment documents and matching marking evidence. CE marking remains available for construction products placed on the Great Britain market.

Agree natural or pre-weathered finish, an approved colour sample and acceptable variation between batches. Specify protective film, interleaving, edge protection and dry packing. Include matching ridge, verge and eaves details in the drawing pack, and ask the factory to identify any proposed material or finish substitution before production.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative palletised batch of formed zinc roofing tiles under 7907 00 00 90, invoiced at £9,000 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £9,900. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £9,900, so it is £1,980. 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: compare batch material records with the agreed alloy, measure thickness away from folded edges and inspect for cracks at bends.

Fit: measure cover dimensions and fold geometry, then assemble sampled tiles with the agreed clips to check engagement, alignment and movement clearance.

Finish and packing: compare tiles with the approved sample under consistent lighting; check scratches, dents, staining, trapped moisture and crushed corners.

Documents: match product identification on packs to the drawings, material records and applicable performance documents. Use testing and certification support to resolve evidence gaps before shipment.

What goes wrong

A tile can match the overall drawing dimensions but still have the wrong cover size or fold geometry. The result is a roof that will not align or clips that cannot engage properly. Thin material, cracked folds and flattened corners also cause installation problems. An assembled sample is more useful than approving photographs of loose tiles.

Mixed finish batches can leave visible patches across a roof, while wet packing can stain surfaces before installation. A report for a different tile profile or roof build-up may leave the intended application unsupported. Keep the approved assembly, finish sample and document references in the purchase specification, and resolve mismatches before accepting the batch.

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.