Sourcing Calcium Ammonium Nitrate from China

Duty depends on the calcium compound and nitrogen

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 7 November 2026, heading 3102 covers mineral or chemical nitrogenous fertilisers. For calcium ammonium nitrate, distinguish ammonium nitrate mixed with calcium carbonate or another inorganic non-fertilising substance from double salts or mixtures of calcium nitrate and ammonium nitrate.

For goods from China, carbonate mixtures with nitrogen not exceeding 28% carry 6%; those exceeding 28% carry 6.50%. Calcium nitrate/ammonium nitrate salts and mixtures carry 6%, or 6.50% for solid fertilisers exceeding 80% ammonium nitrate. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping duty, countervailing duty or suspension for these lines. Both higher-duty lines carry the Ammonium Nitrates (Imports) control; confirm with the relevant authority or your customs broker whether a detonation resistance test certificate is required for high-nitrogen ammonium nitrate.

Give your broker the formulation, nutrient analysis, physical form and pack size to confirm the commodity code. Confirm the certificate requirement and shipment paperwork before dispatch. For other products within this heading, see urea and nitrogen fertilisers.

Specify the formulation and spreading quality

Ask the factory to identify the calcium ingredient explicitly: calcium carbonate filler and calcium nitrate are different formulations. Specify total nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, ammoniacal nitrogen and the calcium declaration appropriate to the product. Agree moisture, granule size distribution, crushing strength, dust and anti-caking treatment against the intended spreading or blending use.

Agree the bag liner, closures and handling arrangement, and obtain a batch analysis before loading. Confirm with the relevant authority the fertiliser type and nutrient declarations and their format needed for sale in Great Britain, using the published nitrogen fertiliser guide to prepare your questions. Settle the sale label before printing rather than simply translating the factory label.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 25 tonnes of calcium ammonium nitrate fertiliser in bags under 3102 40 10 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% is £690. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £12,190, so it is £2,438. Import taxes total £3,128; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £690 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Identity: compare the batch analysis and formulation with the order, including whether the calcium ingredient is carbonate or nitrate.

Analysis: independently sample the lot and test nitrogen, the agreed calcium declaration and moisture against the specification.

Granules and bags: check sieve results, crushing strength, dust, caking, bag weights, liners, seams and signs of water ingress on arrival.

Documents: match bag batch marks, analysis and any required detonation resistance test certificate. Each certificate should relate to a sample from each production run batch. Use quality inspection guidance to prepare the inspection brief.

What goes wrong

A trade name can conceal a different calcium ingredient or nutrient profile, leaving the buyer with the wrong formulation and commodity code. Soft granules generate dust; moisture produces hard cakes; damaged liners let a satisfactory factory sample become unusable stock after shipment.

Labels and certificates can describe a different batch from the bags delivered. Resolve discrepancies before releasing stock, and check that the laboratory sample represents the actual production lot rather than a supplier-selected reference sample.

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.