Sourcing Ammonium Persulphate from China

4% duty on ammonium persulphate

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 5 November 2026, ammonium persulphate falls within the persulphates line of heading 2833, which covers sulphates, alums and peroxosulphates. Code 2833 40 00 00 carries 4% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record shows no anti-dumping or countervailing measure and no suspension for this line. Only this commodity line is relevant to the product covered here.

The UK Trade Tariff attaches an import waste control and also lists an export waste control. Waste shipment controls apply only when the material is waste. If the consignment is waste, the importer should confirm the requirements for goods from China with their customs broker before shipment; this guide does not establish the applicable waste shipment procedure.

Confirm the chemical identity, composition and commodity code before ordering, particularly for blends or preparations. For the wider persulphate family, see potassium persulphate. Budget separately for 20% import VAT using our duty and VAT guide.

Specify ammonium persulphate by assay and use

Name ammonium persulphate explicitly in the purchase specification. Agree the assay basis, test method, moisture, insoluble matter, particle size and relevant impurity limits for your process. Ask for a certificate of analysis linked to each production batch, and test a sample in your own process before approving bulk supply.

Persulphates are oxidisers. Read the safety data sheet for the transport number and class before booking freight. Hazardous chemicals supplied for workplace use require a safety data sheet. Everyone in the supply chain must ensure correct labelling and packaging before sale in Great Britain. Confirm UK REACH registration arrangements with HSE before ordering.

Agree sealed packaging, inner liners, batch marking and handling arrangements with the factory and receiving warehouse. Use factory verification to check whether the producer can perform the agreed batch tests and preserve traceability.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of ammonium persulphate in 25 kg bags under 2833 40 00 00, invoiced at £4,800 free on board, with £1,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £6,300. Duty at 4% is £252. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £6,552, so it is £1,310.40. Import taxes total £1,562.40; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £252 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Identity: match ammonium persulphate on the order, bag markings, safety data sheet and batch certificate.

Assay: compare independent sample results with the agreed method and assay basis; check moisture, insolubles and specified impurities.

Packaging: check seals, liners, net weights and visible moisture damage or caking before accepting the delivery.

Traceability: match every delivered batch to its certificate and record damaged bags separately. Agree the scope through our inspection guide.

What goes wrong

A generic description such as 'persulphate' leaves room for the wrong salt or a substituted blend. An assay without its test method or reporting basis makes comparison difficult. Caking, torn liners and missing batch references can make an otherwise acceptable certificate poor evidence for the delivered goods.

Agree acceptance criteria before production and keep arrival photographs and sample results with the batch record. Hold goods with damaged packaging, inconsistent identity or failed test results pending investigation. A factory certificate should be checked against the material actually delivered.

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.