Sourcing andalusite aggregate from China

UK duty on andalusite refractory aggregate

Heading 2508 covers other clays and refractory minerals, including andalusite, whether or not calcined. Andalusite shares commodity code 2508 50 00 00 with kyanite and sillimanite. The table includes related refractory materials for comparison; these are not interchangeable specifications. See the wider clays guide.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 6 November 2026, andalusite from China carries 0% duty. The supplied record shows no anti-dumping or countervailing measures and no suspensions. It attaches import and export waste controls. For waste shipped under notification controls, consent from the destination, dispatch and transit authorities is required before shipment. Confirm the applicable requirements for your China shipment with your customs broker and the relevant waste authority.

Give your broker the mineral analysis, processing history and details of any additives to confirm the commodity code. Describe the actual goods rather than using only 'refractory aggregate'. Finished refractory bricks fall under heading 6902, as explained in the reference guide.

Specify mineral identity and refractory performance

Specify andalusite by mineral identity, source and processing condition, including whether it is calcined. Agree alumina, silica, iron oxide and alkali content, particle-size distribution, fines, moisture and bulk density. Put the agreed test methods and acceptance criteria in the purchase specification rather than accepting a grade name alone.

Ask for batch-linked analysis and retain an approved sample. Trial the aggregate in your intended refractory formulation and firing conditions before accepting a substitute source. If you have not previously imported the substance, consider whether it requires registration under UK REACH.

Ask for crystalline silica information and plan dust control when opening bags, screening or mixing. Confirm the applicable workplace exposure limits and control requirements with HSE or a competent occupational hygiene adviser.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 40 tonnes of andalusite refractory aggregate in bulk bags under 2508 50 00 00, invoiced at £6,000 free on board, with £3,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £9,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £9,000, so it is £1,800. 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 bag markings, source and batch references to the order and analysis; investigate any unexplained mineral substitution.

Chemistry: compare a representative batch sample with the agreed composition and impurity criteria; retain a sealed sample for disputes.

Grading: sieve samples against the ordered distribution and check fines, moisture and caking, including material from different bags.

Packing: check bag weights, liners, seams, lifting loops and pallet protection; photograph wet bags, leakage and contamination on arrival.

What goes wrong

A generic refractory-aggregate description can conceal a different mineral or a blend. Similar-looking material may fail your chemistry or firing trial. Excess fines, mixed size fractions, moisture and contamination are practical reasons to hold a batch for investigation rather than feed it straight into production.

Do not treat reclaimed refractory material as equivalent to newly produced mineral aggregate. In England, a material is waste if its holder has discarded it. Establish its history and ask your broker and waste authority to confirm its status and shipment controls before ordering.

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.