Sourcing attapulgite adsorbents from China

Zero duty on activated attapulgite

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, heading 3802 covers activated carbon, activated natural mineral products and animal black. Activated attapulgite adsorbents fall within the activated-mineral family. The relevant residual line, 3802 90 00 90, carries 0% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping duty, countervailing duty or suspension recorded. The table shows product forms using this same tariff line.

The tariff attaches waste import and export controls. For waste imported into England under notification controls, the exporter must apply to the competent authority in the country of dispatch for consent. For spent, contaminated or recovered adsorbent offered from China, ask your customs broker to confirm waste status and the applicable shipment requirements before ordering.

Give your broker the mineral composition, activation process, additives and intended use to confirm the commodity code. Import VAT is normally 20%; see UK import duty and VAT. For the wider activated-clay family, see activated bleaching earth.

Specify activation and adsorption performance

Specify attapulgite identity, mineral composition, activation method and any binders or additives. Agree powder or granule form, particle-size distribution, moisture, bulk density and acidity. Ask for the exact grade's safety data sheet and batch analysis, rather than a general clay brochure.

Define an adsorption trial using your own process liquid or target contaminant. Agree the dosing, contact conditions, separation method and acceptance criteria. For granules, include attrition and fines checks; for powder, include filtration behaviour. Keep an approved sample for comparison with production.

Substances and mixtures placed on the Great Britain market must be classified and labelled under the applicable chemical classification and labelling regulation. If you have not previously imported the substance, consider whether UK REACH registration is required. Obtain the supplier's composition and activation details to support that assessment.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 20 tonnes of activated attapulgite adsorbent powder, illustrative only under 3802 90 00 90, invoiced at £30,000 free on board, with £2,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £32,500. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £32,500, so it is £6,500. 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

Identity: match the grade, activation route and batch analysis to the purchase specification.

Performance: repeat the agreed adsorption and separation trial against the retained approved sample.

Physical condition: check moisture, particle size, caking and granule breakdown against agreed limits.

Packing: check liners, closures, contamination, net weight and batch identification; retain arrival samples.

What goes wrong

A replacement clay or changed activation process can pass a visual check yet fail your adsorption trial. Excess moisture changes the amount of dry adsorbent received. Fine particles can complicate separation, while weak granules generate dust during handling. Compare production samples with the approved grade before shipment.

An adsorption result means little if the factory used a different test liquid, dose or contact conditions. Put the method in the purchase specification and investigate failed arrival samples before releasing the batch for use. Use quality inspection to organise sampling and checks.

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.