Sourcing activated alumina from China
Activated alumina from China carries UK duty of 0% to 4%: the standard rate is 4%, with a suspension for qualifying material of at least 350 m²/g specific surface area. Check the actual grade and your UK REACH registration position before importing. Cambridge China Bridge sources activated alumina.
Activated alumina duty and suspension
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 5 November 2026, heading 2818 covers artificial corundum, aluminium oxide and aluminium hydroxide. Activated alumina sits within aluminium oxide other than artificial corundum. The table separates drying and adsorption applications under the same relevant codes; these are buying descriptions, not additional tariff subdivisions.
The supplied tariff facts show 4% standard duty from China and no anti-dumping or countervailing duty on these lines. Code 2818 20 00 10 has a 0% suspension for activated alumina with specific surface area of at least 350 m²/g. Mixtures, preparations and multicomponent products are excluded. The suspension on 2818 20 00 90 is specifically for manufacturing auto-catalyst monoliths, so ordinary drying media should not assume eligibility.
Confirm the commodity code against composition and measured surface area. The tariff attaches import and export waste controls. Waste shipment controls apply only to waste; for spent or discarded media from China, ask your customs broker to confirm the applicable requirements before shipment. See the calcined alumina guide for the wider heading.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Activated alumina drying beads, specific surface area at least 350 m²/g | 2818 20 00 10 | 4% | None |
| Other activated alumina drying beads, specific surface area below 350 m²/g | 2818 20 00 90 | 4% | None |
Specify adsorption performance and bead strength
Describe the application: compressed-air drying, gas drying or adsorption from water. Specify aluminium oxide content, surface area and test method, bead size distribution, crush strength, abrasion loss, bulk density and moisture. Agree an application test with the factory rather than accepting surface area alone as proof of performance.
Ask for a batch certificate of analysis and a retained sample. Agree sealed moisture-resistant packaging and storage instructions. At one tonne or more per year, check your UK REACH registration position, as explained in our importer guide. Registration is per substance and legal entity.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: one tonne of activated alumina drying beads below the surface-area threshold, without catalyst-use relief under 2818 20 00 90, invoiced at £2,200 free on board, with £2,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £4,200. Duty at 4% is £168. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £4,368, so it is £873.60. Import taxes total £1,041.60; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £168 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Identity: match the batch numbers on bags, certificates and samples; check composition and declared surface area against the order.
Beads: check size distribution, broken beads and fines; test crush strength and abrasion against the agreed methods.
Performance: compare moisture and adsorption results with the approved sample under the same test conditions.
Packing: inspect seals, liners, wet patches and net weights on arrival. Plan independent inspection around these checks.
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What goes wrong
Wet packing can leave drying media partly loaded with moisture before use. Weak beads break during handling and produce fines, while a changed size distribution can alter flow through the bed. A certificate showing surface area does not establish the agreed drying or adsorption performance.
A shipment below the tariff surface-area threshold may lose the activated-alumina suspension. Test a representative batch sample before dispatch and match the result to the shipped lot. Keep damaged or suspect bags separate while investigating.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on activated alumina from China?
The supplied tariff facts show 4% standard duty, reduced to 0% for qualifying activated alumina with specific surface area of at least 350 m²/g. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty is listed.
Does every activated alumina grade qualify for duty suspension?
No. The activated-alumina suspension requires specific surface area of at least 350 m²/g and excludes mixtures, preparations and multicomponent products.
What should I test on activated alumina beads?
Check surface area, bead size distribution, crush strength, abrasion, moisture and adsorption performance against the agreed specification and approved sample.
Do waste controls apply to unused activated alumina?
Waste shipment controls apply only if the material is waste. The tariff attaches waste controls; confirm the status and requirements with your broker before importing spent or discarded media.