Sourcing Attapulgite Clay from China
Attapulgite clay entered as other clays carries 0% UK duty from China, with no duty variation in the supplied heading. Confirm its composition and processing before classification. Ask HSE to confirm the applicable workplace exposure-control requirements, including those for hazardous clay dust. Cambridge China Bridge sources attapulgite clay.
Attapulgite clay duty and classification
Heading 2508 covers other clays and specified refractory minerals. For attapulgite clay, start by checking the supplied Other clays line, 2508 40 00 00. The table shows purchase forms sharing this tariff line, each subject to classification. See the bentonite and clays guide for the wider heading.
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, the supplied Other clays line carries 0% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension listed. The tariff attaches import and export waste controls. Waste shipment controls apply only to waste material. For a shipment from China, confirm the applicable requirement with your customs broker, particularly for spent or recovered clay.
Give your broker the mineral composition, processing history, additives and intended use, then confirm the commodity code. Identify drying, milling, heat treatment or chemical treatment separately. Do not assume that a formulated absorbent or thickener has the same classification as natural clay.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other clays: natural attapulgite lumps, subject to classification | 2508 40 00 00 | 0% | None |
Specify mineral identity and working performance
Specify attapulgite clay by mineral identity, source deposit, processing and intended application. Ask for a mineralogical report identifying attapulgite and accompanying minerals, plus declared additives. Agree moisture, particle-size distribution and a retained approval sample. Colour alone is a poor basis for accepting the material.
For an absorbent grade, agree the test liquid, contact conditions and absorption method. For a slurry grade, agree the liquid composition, mixing procedure and viscosity test conditions. Test the supplier's sample in your process before approving the specification; an absorption result does not establish thickening performance.
Ask for crystalline silica content and safety information before arranging unloading or bag opening. Confirm with HSE the applicable requirements for controlling workplace exposure and providing a safety data sheet for the supplied material.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 40 tonnes of dried attapulgite clay powder in bulk bags under 2508 40 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 the batch documents, declared minerals, processing and additives to the approved specification.
Moisture and grading: test samples from different bags against the agreed moisture and particle-size methods; record caking and excessive fines.
Performance: repeat the agreed absorption or slurry test using the same liquid and preparation conditions as the approval sample.
Packing and arrival: check bag seals, lifting loops, batch identification and net weight; record wet bags, leakage and contamination before releasing stock.
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What goes wrong
A substituted clay or undeclared blend can change absorption and slurry behaviour. Different milling or drying conditions can also alter how the material disperses. Require approval before the supplier changes the deposit, process or formulation, and retain samples from accepted shipments.
Moisture ingress causes caking, while damaged bags release fines during handling. Photograph arrival damage and keep affected batches separate until checked. Use quality inspection guidance to agree the sampling and acceptance process before shipment.
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 attapulgite clay from China?
The supplied Other clays line, 2508 40 00 00, carries 0% duty from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty listed. Confirm that your product belongs in this line.
Which attapulgite clay specification should I request?
Request mineral identity, processing, additives, moisture and particle-size distribution. Add an absorption or slurry-performance test with agreed preparation conditions for your application.
Do waste controls apply to unused attapulgite clay?
The tariff attaches waste controls to this line, so ask your broker to confirm whether the material is waste and how those controls apply to the shipment.
Can I accept attapulgite clay using its colour alone?
Use colour as an observation, not the acceptance test. Compare mineral identity, moisture, grading and application performance with the approved specification and retained sample.