Sourcing ammonium nitrate fertiliser from China

Ammonium nitrate duty and import controls

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 3 October 2026, heading 3102 covers mineral or chemical nitrogenous fertilisers. Straight ammonium nitrate in aqueous solution carries 6% duty on goods from China; other forms carry 6.50%. The solid ammonium nitrate-rich mixtures selected here also carry 6.50%. These selected lines show no anti-dumping duty, countervailing duty or tariff suspension.

The solid lines selected here carry the tariff control “Ammonium Nitrates (Imports)”. High-nitrogen ammonium nitrate needs a detonation resistance test certificate. Official guidance says each certificate should relate to a sample from each production run batch. Check the certificate against the shipment and have your customs broker confirm the full import requirements for the Chinese consignment before booking freight.

Confirm the commodity code from the physical form, composition and nitrogen analysis. Aqueous solution and solid fertiliser have different lines; sulphate mixtures and other blends need their own classification. For calcium carbonate mixtures and the wider heading, see calcium ammonium nitrate fertiliser.

Specify nitrogen, granules and batch documents

Specify whether the product is straight ammonium nitrate or a blend, its total nitrogen content, nitrogen derived from ammonium nitrate, moisture, granule or prill size distribution, crushing strength and anti-caking treatment. Agree the bag construction, liner, closure and batch identification. For solution, specify concentration and check that the proposed transport packaging suits the product.

Confirm with the relevant authority what type and nutrient information must appear on fertiliser sold in Great Britain under the applicable fertiliser framework. High-nitrogen ammonium nitrate also needs detonation resistance testing before supply. Settle the label and batch documents before production. If you have not imported this substance before, consider whether registration under UK REACH is required.

Ammonium nitrate is an oxidising dangerous good and an explosives precursor. Check transport arrangements, storage, security and customer checks before ordering. Give the carrier and receiving warehouse the product specification and safety data sheet so they can assess the proposed handling arrangements.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 25 tonnes of solid ammonium nitrate fertiliser in bags under 3102 30 90 00, invoiced at £9,000 free on board, with £2,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £11,500. Duty at 6.5% is £747.50. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £12,247.50, so it is £2,449.50. Import taxes total £3,197; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £747.50 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Analysis: arrange independent sampling and compare nitrogen content and moisture with the agreed specification.

Physical condition: check granule size, crushing strength, dust and caking before loading and again on arrival.

Batch documents: match bag identification, analysis and the detonation resistance test certificate to the supplied production batch.

Packing and labels: check liners, seams, closures and signs of water ingress; verify the fertiliser type and nutrient declaration. See quality inspection explained.

What goes wrong

Moisture can turn free-flowing granules into hard cakes, while handling can break weak granules into dust. Bags may arrive split or with illegible batch identification. A supplier’s sample can meet the specification while the shipped lot differs, so use independent sampling rather than relying only on the factory’s analysis.

An analysis report does not replace the detonation resistance test certificate needed for high-nitrogen ammonium nitrate. A certificate for a different batch leaves the shipment documents unresolved. Check documents before dispatch, record arrival damage and keep affected 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.