Sourcing Chromium Hydroxide from China

Chromium hydroxide duty and waste controls

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 11 November 2026, heading 2819 covers chromium oxides and hydroxides. For chromium hydroxide, the relevant residual line is 2819 90 90 90, subject to confirmation of composition. It carries 0% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measure and no suspension recorded.

The tariff attaches import and export waste controls. For material from China entering England under waste notification controls, shipment must wait for consent from the authorities of destination, dispatch and transit. Ask your customs broker and the relevant environmental authority to confirm whether the consignment is waste and which requirements apply.

The table contains the relevant residual line only. Confirm the substance identity, moisture, additives and intended use through our commodity code guide. See the chromium oxides guide for the wider heading.

Specify chromium content and moisture together

Specify chromium hydroxide by its chemical identity and composition, rather than accepting a supplier's trade name. State whether you want powder, wet cake or paste. Agree chromium content on a dry basis, moisture as supplied, soluble salts, chromium impurity limits, particle size where relevant and the analytical methods used.

Ask for a batch certificate of analysis and a safety data sheet matching the supplied material. Confirm the UK REACH registration route for the named substance and importing business: registration is per substance, per legal entity. Classification and labelling must be carried out by someone with scientific competence.

Use a sample in your own process before approving the specification. Compare dispersibility, settling, filtration and reaction behaviour as relevant to your application. Define packaging that keeps wet material contained or dry material protected from moisture.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: one tonne of chromium hydroxide under 2819 90 90 90, invoiced at £2,000 free on board, with £2,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £4,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £4,000, so it is £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 purchase specification, certificate of analysis, safety data sheet and container labels to the same substance and batch.

Composition: independently sample the batch for chromium content, moisture, soluble salts and the agreed chromium impurity limits.

Condition: check powder for hard lumps and contamination; check wet cake or paste for leakage, separation and inconsistent moisture.

Packing: check seals, container condition, batch traceability and the agreed net contents. Compare labels and packaging with the chemical classification assessment.

What goes wrong

A dry-basis assay can look acceptable while a wetter shipment delivers less usable material than expected. A matching colour does not establish chemical identity or impurity control. Differences in soluble salts, particle size or drying can change behaviour in the buyer's process.

Recovered material described simply as chromium hydroxide can leave its waste status unclear. Resolve that before dispatch, keep a retained sample and agree how a failed batch will be handled. Use our inspection guide to define the checks.

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.