Aluminium powder and flakes from China
Aluminium powders and flakes from China, including atomised powder for metallurgy and 3D printing and lamellar flake for pigments and coatings, pay 0% UK duty on both lines of heading 7603, with no anti-dumping duty. Fine aluminium powder is a reportable explosives precursor under the Poisons Act 1972 and ships as flammable dangerous goods.
Atomised aluminium powder and aluminium flake from China pay 0% UK duty. Explosives precursor reporting, dangerous goods and particle size explained.
0% duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 27 September 2026, heading 7603 covers aluminium powders and flakes: powders of non-lamellar structure, and powders of lamellar structure and flakes. Both lines carried 0% on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure and no tariff suspension.
Aluminium pastes and pigments already mixed with solvents or binders are usually preparations of chapter 32, and aluminium pigment dispersed in paint is a paint, so confirm the commodity code from the form in which the product is sold.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powders of non-lamellar structure (atomised) | 7603 10 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Powders of lamellar structure; flakes | 7603 20 00 00 | 0% | None |
Precursor reporting and dangerous goods
Schedule 1A to the Poisons Act 1972 lists aluminium powders with a particle size below 200 micrometres, as a substance or in mixtures containing 70% or more aluminium and/or magnesium, as reportable explosives precursors. Suppliers must report suspicious transactions, disappearances and thefts, so buyers should expect questions about end use.
Uncoated and coated aluminium powders ship as dangerous goods, as flammable solids or substances that emit flammable gas in contact with water depending on the grade, so they need UN packaging, labels and a safety data sheet under the retained CLP Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008. Dust explosion risk also applies in the buyer's plant.
Specifying aluminium powder
Specify the form (atomised, spherical, lamellar or leafing flake), particle size distribution (D10, D50, D90), purity and oxide content, coating or passivation, bulk density, surface area for flake, packaging under inert gas where needed, and the dangerous goods class and UN number.
Worked duty example
Suppose, purely for illustration, you import 5 tonnes of leafing aluminium flake for coatings under 7603 20 00 00. At £21,000 free on board and £1,500 to ship and insure, the customs value is £22,500. With 0% duty on aluminium flake, the only charge is import VAT: 20% of £22,500, or £4,500. VAT-registered businesses usually recover that in their next return. The method is set out in how UK import duty and VAT work.
Inspection checklist
Particle size: check the laser diffraction report for the batch against the specified distribution, and for flake the leafing value and coverage.
Purity and oxidation: check aluminium content, oxide and moisture on the certificate of analysis, and that packaging is sealed and dry.
Documents: check the safety data sheet, the dangerous goods declaration, UN packaging marks and labels before shipping.
What goes wrong
Aluminium powder orders fail on particle size, oxidation and paperwork. The size distribution is wider than specified, powder oxidises or picks up moisture in poor packaging, flake loses its leafing effect, and shipments are refused because the dangerous goods paperwork is wrong.
Check particle size and packaging on each batch and settle the shipping class first. See our quality inspection guide.
Cambridge China Bridge sources aluminium powder and flake for UK coatings, metallurgy and additive manufacturing buyers, checking the producer's laboratory first. See factory verification.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on aluminium powder from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 27 September 2026, aluminium powders and flakes under 7603 carried 0% from China, with no anti-dumping duty.
Is aluminium powder an explosives precursor?
Yes. Aluminium powders below 200 micrometres are reportable explosives precursors under Schedule 1A to the Poisons Act 1972.
Are aluminium pastes in heading 7603?
Usually not. Pastes mixed with solvents or binders are generally chapter 32 preparations.
Does aluminium powder ship as dangerous goods?
Yes, as a flammable solid or water-reactive substance depending on grade and coating.