Sourcing Aluminium Nitride Powder from China
Aluminium nitride powder from China pays 4% UK duty under 2850 00 20 90, with no applicable suspension or trade remedy recorded. UK REACH registration arrangements matter when annual imports reach one tonne; agree purity, oxygen content and particle size before ordering. Cambridge China Bridge sources aluminium nitride powder.
Aluminium nitride powder: 4% duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 24 October 2026, heading 2850 covers hydrides, nitrides, azides, silicides and borides, excluding compounds which are also carbides. Aluminium nitride powder falls within the residual hydride and nitride line, 2850 00 20 90. The table shows purchasing variants within that same line.
Chinese-origin aluminium nitride powder pays 4%. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty is recorded. The suspension attached to this line names other substances and does not cover aluminium nitride. The tariff also attaches import and export waste controls. For powder from China supplied as waste, confirm the applicable requirements with your customs broker; for notified waste imports into England, the exporter must apply to the dispatch country's competent authority for consent.
Confirm the composition and supplied form through finding your commodity code. Finished ceramic parts need separate classification checks. See the wider heading guide for other compounds.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminium nitride powder for ceramic processing | 2850 00 20 90 | 4% | None |
Specify purity, oxygen and particle size
State whether the powder is for ceramic processing, thermal filler use or laboratory trials. Agree aluminium nitride identity, crystal phase, purity, oxygen and carbon limits, metallic impurities, particle size distribution and specific surface area. Name the test methods and require a certificate of analysis for each batch.
Agree sealed packing, storage instructions and whether any surface treatment or additive is present. Approve a sample using your own process before accepting the production batch. For Great Britain, confirm applicable UK REACH registration requirements and any only-representative coverage with HSE. Also confirm safety data sheet requirements and applicable chemical classification and labelling rules with HSE.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 2 tonnes of aluminium nitride powder under 2850 00 20 90, invoiced at £50,000 free on board, with £2,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £52,000. Duty at 4% is £2,080. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £54,080, so it is £10,816. Import taxes total £12,896; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £2,080 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Documents: match the batch certificate, English safety data sheet and UK REACH arrangements to the actual powder ordered.
Laboratory: independently check identity, oxygen content, purity and particle size against the agreed specification and approved sample.
Packing: check seals, liners, batch identification, container condition and any hazard labels required for the supplied material.
Process trial: compare dispersion or ceramic processing behaviour with the approved sample before releasing the batch for production.
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What goes wrong
Orders can fail when the certificate describes a different grade, oxygen content exceeds the agreed limit, particle size differs from the approved sample or powder arrives caked. An undisclosed treatment or additive can also make the delivered material unsuitable for the buyer's process.
Agree acceptance limits and sampling methods before ordering. Retain a reference sample and test the shipment independently. Record damaged seals and isolate questionable batches while investigating. Use the quality inspection guide to prepare the inspection brief.
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 aluminium nitride powder from China?
It is 4% under 2850 00 20 90 on the supplied tariff read date. No applicable suspension, anti-dumping duty or countervailing duty is recorded.
Does aluminium nitride powder qualify for the nitride suspension?
No. The suspension on the residual hydride and nitride line names other substances, including qualifying titanium nitride, rather than aluminium nitride.
Do I need UK REACH registration for aluminium nitride powder?
For Great Britain, confirm applicable registration requirements and any only-representative coverage with HSE. Confirm the route before ordering.
What should I test before accepting the powder?
Check identity, purity, oxygen content and particle size against the contract. Compare a process trial with the approved sample and inspect packing for damaged seals or caking.