Import Duties on Steel Structures: Sweden vs El Salvador at a Glance

Two countries, two continents, two very different sets of import rules. Sweden represents a mature, high-regulation EU market. El Salvador represents a smaller but fast-growing Central American market where procedures are simpler but less documented online.

 

This article lays out the basics for a buyer importing a complete prefabricated steel structure - columns, beams, purlins, cladding, and connectors - from China into either country.

 

Sweden (European Union)

Sweden applies the EU Common Customs Tariff. Prefabricated steel buildings and their components generally fall under Chapter 73 of the Harmonized System - specifically:

HS Code	Description	EU Duty Rate
7308.90.59	Structures of iron or steel, prefabricated	0%
7308.90.98	Other structures and parts	0%
7216.33.00	H-sections, hot-rolled, ≥ 80mm	0%
7216.91.80	Cold-formed purlins and girts	0%

 

Yes - the duty rate on most structural steel entering the EU from China is zero. This has been the case since 2021 when the EU suspended certain steel safeguard measures for prefabricated structures.

 

However, there is a catch: anti-dumping duties on specific products. As of mid-2026, certain steel products from China face EU anti-dumping duties - but prefabricated building systems (complete kits with engineering documentation) are generally not covered by these measures. The key is classification: a "steel building kit" shipped as a complete system with drawings is not the same thing as "hot-rolled flat steel coil."

 

VAT in Sweden is 25%, applied on the CIF value plus any duties. For a €100,000 steel structure shipped to Gothenburg, expect roughly €25,000 in VAT - recoverable if the importing company is VAT-registered.

Documentation expected at Swedish customs: commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, mill certificates (EN 10204 3.1), and a CE Declaration of Performance if the structure falls under EN 1090.

 

El Salvador (Central America)

El Salvador's tariff regime is governed by the Central American Common Tariff (SAC). Steel structures under heading 7308 carry the following:

HS Code	Description	SAC Duty Rate
7308.90.00.00	Prefabricated steel structures	5%
7216.33.00.00	H-sections	5%
7216.91.00.00	Cold-formed sections	5%

 

The 5% duty is standard for most steel construction products. There are no current anti-dumping measures on Chinese steel structures in El Salvador.

VAT (IVA) is 13%, applied on the CIF value plus duties. On a $80,000 steel structure shipment: duty is $4,000, VAT is approximately $10,920, for a total import cost of about $14,920.

 

Documentation is simpler than Sweden. A commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, and certificate of origin are typically sufficient. No CE marking requirement - El Salvador follows its own national standards, which are less stringent than EU norms for steel construction.

 

Side-by-side comparison:

Item	Sweden (EU)	El Salvador
Duty on prefab steel structures	0%	5%
VAT / IVA	25%	13%
Anti-dumping risk	Low (for building kits)	None
Documentation complexity	High (CE, EN 1090, mill certs)	Low
Import clearance time	3–7 days	2–5 days

 

Practical advice for ZSL buyers:

If you are importing to Sweden, start the documentation process early. The CE requirements under EN 1090 mean the factory must be certified and the structural calculations must reference Eurocodes. ZSL maintains this documentation as standard for EU orders.

 

If you are importing to El Salvador, the process is more straightforward but local customs brokers vary in quality. ZSL recommends working with a broker experienced in construction materials - misclassification under the wrong HS subheading can trigger a 15% duty instead of 5%.