Sourcing carbon nanotube powders from China
Carbon nanotube powders classified under heading 2803 pay 0% UK duty from China, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty. Confirm the UK REACH registration position and chemical labelling before supply, and control workplace exposure. Cambridge China Bridge sources carbon nanotube powders.
Duty and the shared carbon code
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 4 October 2026, heading 2803 covers carbon, including carbon blacks and other forms of carbon not elsewhere specified or included. For carbon nanotube powders classified here, code 2803 00 00 00 carries 0% duty from China. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty or suspension is listed. The table shows powder variants sharing the same tariff line.
The tariff attaches import and export waste controls. For a shipment from China into England that falls under waste notification controls, consent from the destination, dispatch and transit authorities is required before shipment. For recovered powder, rejected batches or material sold as waste, ask your customs broker to confirm the applicable requirements. Confirm the attached export control before returning waste to China.
Give your broker the composition, surface treatment and physical form to confirm the commodity code. Check dispersions and masterbatches separately rather than copying the powder code. See the conductive and acetylene black guide for the wider heading and the duty and VAT guide for calculations.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-wall carbon nanotube powder | 2803 00 00 00 | 0% | None |
Tube structure, purity and dispersion
Specify single-wall or multi-wall material, tube diameter and length distributions, surface treatment, moisture, ash and residual catalyst metals. Define what the supplier means by purity and agree the analytical method. Ask for microscopy and batch analysis rather than accepting a generic carbon-content certificate.
Agree a dispersion trial in your actual resin, solvent or binder, using the intended mixing process. Record loading, mixing conditions and the conductivity or mechanical result you need. Compare production samples with the approved sample under the same conditions.
Confirm the UK REACH registration position for your annual imports and exact substance identity. Registration is per substance and legal entity. Chemical suppliers must ensure correct labelling and packaging before placing substances on the market. A safety data sheet is required when a hazardous chemical is supplied for workplace use. Workplace exposure to materials that cause ill health must be adequately controlled.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Sealed containers of single-wall carbon nanotube powder for a small business's formulation trials, illustrative only under 2803 00 00 00, invoiced at £22,000 free on board, with £2,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £24,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £24,000, so it is £4,800. 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 container labels, batch numbers, wall structure and surface treatment to the purchase specification and analysis certificate.
Composition: have retained batch samples checked for agreed purity, ash, moisture and catalyst residues using the contracted methods.
Performance: repeat the agreed dispersion and application test; compare agglomerates and conductivity with the approved sample.
Containment: inspect seals, liners and outer containers for leakage or damage before opening. Arrange sampling under your assessed exposure controls. Use the inspection guide to define the inspection brief.
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What goes wrong
A high carbon-content result can conceal unwanted carbon forms or catalyst residues. Tube dimensions and surface treatment can differ between batches, while agglomeration can make an apparently matching powder disperse poorly. Specify the test method and compare performance in your own formulation before accepting a replacement grade.
Leaking containers create a handling problem before the powder reaches production. A supplier's generic safety document may also describe a different grade. Hold damaged or mismatched stock apart, obtain the correct batch information and review handling arrangements before sampling or use.
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 carbon nanotube powders from China?
For powders classified under 2803 00 00 00, duty is 0% from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension.
Do carbon nanotube powders need UK REACH registration?
Check the registration position for your substance identity and annual imports before ordering. UK REACH registration is per substance and legal entity; a supplier's certificate alone does not settle your position.
How do I check carbon nanotube powder quality?
Agree tube dimensions, purity definitions, catalyst residues and test methods. Compare batch microscopy and analysis, then repeat a dispersion and performance trial in your actual formulation.
Can I use the powder code for a nanotube dispersion?
Confirm the code separately using the full formulation and physical form. A dispersion or masterbatch is a preparation, so do not automatically use the carbon powder code.