Sourcing coal carbon pellets from China
Coal-based pelletised activated carbon from China carries 0% UK duty under the ordinary activated carbon line, with no anti-dumping duty recorded. Check whether the material is a product or waste, and obtain grade-specific self-heating evidence before booking freight. Cambridge China Bridge sources coal-based pelletised activated carbon.
Duty and classification for coal carbon pellets
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, heading 3802 covers activated carbon, activated natural mineral products and animal black. Ordinary coal-based activated carbon pellets fall within 3802 10 00 90. The table shows purchasing variants sharing that code, rather than separate tariff subdivisions.
The supplied tariff record shows 0% duty for goods from China, no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, and no suspension on this line. Import VAT is normally 20%. The tariff attaches import and export waste controls. Waste shipment controls apply only to material classed as waste; confirm the applicable requirements for any spent or recovered material with your customs broker before shipping.
Give your broker the feedstock, activation process, additives, physical form and intended use, then confirm the commodity code. Specially described chemically activated vapour-recovery grades have a separate tariff line. For another product form within the heading, see honeycomb activated carbon blocks.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unimpregnated coal-based activated carbon pellets | 3802 10 00 90 | 0% | None |
Specify the pellet and its adsorption task
State coal feedstock, virgin or reactivated material, activation process, binder and any impregnation. Specify pellet diameter, length distribution, bulk density, hardness, dust, moisture and ash, with agreed test methods and acceptance limits. Ask the factory to identify the production site and retain an approved sample.
Describe the actual gas or liquid stream, target contaminants and operating conditions. Agree an application test alongside iodine number; do not accept an iodine result as the whole performance specification. For acid-washed pellets, agree the washing process and acidity or alkalinity checks.
Confirm the UK REACH registration duties applicable to your annual imports with HSE. Registration is per substance and per legal entity. Ask your freight provider whether the exact activated carbon grade must ship as dangerous goods; obtain the exact grade's self-heating test report before booking. For public drinking-water use in England and Wales, confirm with the Drinking Water Inspectorate the applicable conformity route and national conditions of use, or whether individual approval is required.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 20 tonnes of coal-based pelletised activated carbon; illustrative order only under 3802 10 00 90, invoiced at £30,000 free on board, with £2,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £32,500. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £32,500, so it is £6,500. 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, batch references, feedstock and treatment declarations to the purchase specification and certificate of analysis.
Pellets: measure diameter and length distribution, compare bulk density and hardness with the approved sample, and inspect for broken pellets and loose dust.
Performance: independently sample the lot for agreed adsorption, moisture and ash tests; check acidity or alkalinity where acid washing was specified.
Packing: inspect liners, closures and bags for tears or dampness, verify net weight, and match the shipping assessment to the exact grade and treatment.
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What goes wrong
Weak pellets arrive as fines, wet carbon inflates delivered weight, and inconsistent ash or adsorption results reveal a changed grade. Undeclared reactivated material or impregnation can also undermine the agreed application. Keep batch samples and compare arrival results with the approved sample before releasing the lot into use.
A generic test report can describe a different grade from the shipment. Ask for reports tied to the supplied material, and investigate any change in feedstock, binder or treatment. Use factory verification to check the producer and production process.
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 coal-based activated carbon pellets?
The supplied tariff record shows 0% duty from China under 3802 10 00 90, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension on that line.
Can activated carbon pellets travel as ordinary cargo?
Ask your freight provider whether the exact grade requires dangerous goods handling. Obtain the exact grade's self-heating test report and agree the shipping classification with the freight provider before booking.
Does the waste control apply to new activated carbon?
Waste shipment controls apply only if the material is waste. Confirm its status; for spent or recovered carbon, ask your customs broker to establish the applicable requirements before shipping.
What should I test when coal carbon pellets arrive?
Check pellet dimensions, hardness, dust, moisture, ash and bulk density against the agreed specification. Test adsorption for the intended application and retain a representative batch sample.