Importing Steel from China to Russia: 5% EAEU Duty, 20% VAT & Zero Trade Remedies (2026)
Verified 2026-10-30 against the EAEU common customs tariff and FTS practice. Russia applies the uniform EAEU tariff of 5% on steel — including all plate under 7225 — and 20% VAT on the duty-paid value. China holds no EAEU free-trade preference, but none is needed: Russia maintains no anti-dumping or safeguard measures on Chinese steel, and Chinese-origin flat steel has become a structural supply line since 2022, moving by rail via Manzhouli/Zabaikalsk and by sea to St. Petersburg and the Far East. The operational specifics are certification (GOST/EAC) and settlement (CNY through SPFS/CIPS), not duties.
Duty structure on Chinese steel (2026)
| Product (HS) | Import duty | Origin route | VAT |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7208 / 7209 / 7210 — flat steel | 5% (EAEU tariff) | no FTA preference for China | 20% VAT |
| 7225 / 7226 — alloy & plate | 5% | uniform EAEU rate | 20% VAT |
| 7301 / 7306 — sections & tube | 5% | uniform | 20% VAT |
The 5% rate is uniform across the EAEU — no product-line surprises, no remedy layer to model.
Certification — the real gate
Customs clearance is easy; market access is the certification layer. Structural and construction steel requires GOST conformity assessment (TR CU 014/2011 for motor roads when applicable), and pressure or load-bearing uses carry EAC marking obligations. Mill test certificates to GOST 7566 are the documents Russian buyers actually read.
Practical note: Baohui supplies GOST-aligned mill certificates and third-party inspection (SGS/BV/TÜV at loading port) as standard for Russian orders — certificate format mismatch, not tariffs, is the leading cause of Russian customs queries.
All lanes open — payment architecture is the real topic
Every lane is open: HRC, CRC, coated and plate under 7225.40 all enter at 5% with no remedy risk. For mining and construction wear applications, the NM400/NM450/NM500 plate lane is the default — Russian buyers compare against Severstal and NLMK domestic offers on total delivered cost.
Baohui quotes Russia with CNY settlement and flexible first-payment terms — the payment architecture matters more than the 5% duty line in current China-Russia trade.
Landed-cost cascade — worked example (25 t NM450 plate to St. Petersburg)
| Line | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| NM450 plate, 25 t × $795/t FOB | $19,875 | FOB China |
| Freight to St. Petersburg / Vladivostok | +$45–90/t | rail vs sea spread |
| CIF value | ≈ $20,875 | duty base |
| EAEU duty 5% | +$1,044 | |
| VAT 20% (on CIF + duty) | +$4,384 | recoverable for VAT payers |
| Landed ≈ $1,053/t | ≈1.32× FOB |
≈1.32× FOB with no remedy volatility — among the most stable landed ratios in the series; VAT recovers for registered payers.
Documents Russian customs will ask for
- Commercial invoice, packing list, rail waybill / bill of lading
- Mill test certificate (GOST 7566 format accepted)
- GOST/EAC conformity certificates where applicable
- Contract registration via bank (currency-control form)
Change log — what moved, and when
| Date | Change |
|---|---|
| 2022–26 | Chinese steel becomes structural import supply; CNY settlement standardises |
| 2026-10-30 | Verified: 5% EAEU duty, 20% VAT, no AD or safeguard on Chinese steel |
Related guide: electrical steel
HS 7225 also covers grain-oriented (GO) and non-oriented (NGO) electrical steel — the silicon steel grades used in transformer and motor cores. Read our guide: What is electrical steel — grades, GO vs NGO, and the global market.
Russia steel import FAQ
What duty does Chinese steel pay in Russia?
5% under the EAEU common tariff, plus 20% VAT on the duty-paid value. No preferential route exists, but no trade remedies apply either.
Is payment in dollars still possible?
USD/EUR legs face sanctions friction; CNY settlement through SPFS/CIPS is the standard channel for China-Russia steel trade and is what Baohui quotes.
Which certification do Russian buyers require?
GOST conformity assessment for construction steel and EAC marking for pressure/load-bearing uses; mill certificates in GOST 7566 format.
How long does rail delivery take?
Manzhouli/Zabaikalsk rail routing typically 12–18 days to central Russia; Far Eastern sea routing (Vladivostok/Nakhodka) adds port handling but suits Siberian destinations.
Does the plate route (7225.40) matter here?
Less for duty (5% everywhere) and more for specification: Russian mills' strength is in HRC/CRC, so wear and high-strength plate is where Chinese supply competes hardest.
Sources & verification
- 1Eurasian Economic Commission — EAEU common customs tariff
- 2Federal Customs Service of Russia (FTS)
- 3Rosstandart / GOST conformity system
Figures on this page were verified on 2026-10-30 against the official sources below. Data is reviewed and re-verified monthly; dates of each review are shown on this page.
