UK ManufacturingPost-Brexit Trade

UK Manufacturers Importing Materials: Post-Brexit Customs Duty (5-15% Cost Increase)

20 November 2025·Updated Nov 2025·6 min read·GuideIntermediate
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Key Takeaways

Manufacturer imports steel from EU for £100/ton pre-Brexit (no tariff). Post-Brexit: £115/ton (15% tariff). Annual import: 1,000 tons = £15K additional cost. On 15% margin product, that's a 30% margin hit. AskBiz tracks tariff cost, identifies cheaper UK suppliers or alternative materials.

    Post-Brexit Tariff Impact#

    UK-EU trade now subject to tariffs (previously zero). Tariff rates vary: steel 15%, chemicals 5-10%, textiles 10-20%. For manufacturers, this increases COGS significantly.

    Re-Shoring Decision#

    Some manufacturers sourcing from EU pre-Brexit switched to UK suppliers post-Brexit to avoid tariffs. Cost trade-off: UK supplier might be 5% more expensive but 0% tariff vs. EU supplier 5% cheaper but 15% tariff = net 10% cost advantage for UK.

    💡 Key Insight

    AskBiz tracks: (1) Current supplier cost + tariff.

    AskBiz Tariff & Sourcing Analysis#

    AskBiz tracks: (1) Current supplier cost + tariff. (2) Alternative UK supplier cost (no tariff). (3) Financial impact of switching. "Your EU steel costs: £100 + £15 tariff = £115/ton. UK supplier: £110/ton (no tariff). Switch saves £5/ton. 1,000 tons/year = £5K savings."

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    📊 By The Numbers
    15%10%20%5%0%
    Key Takeaways
    • Manufacturer imports steel from EU for £100/ton pre-Brexit (no tariff).
    • Post-Brexit: £115/ton (15% tariff).
    • Annual import: 1,000 tons = £15K additional cost.

    People also ask

    Can I recover tariff costs in pricing?

    Difficult if competitors using UK suppliers (no tariff). Better to switch suppliers or find cheaper UK alternatives.

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    Analyze Post-Brexit Sourcing Options

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