Sourcing cobalt metal and powders from China

0% duty on every line

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 27 September 2026, heading 8105 covers cobalt mattes and other intermediate products of cobalt metallurgy, cobalt and articles thereof, including waste and scrap. All 3 lines carried 0% on goods from China: mattes, intermediate products, unwrought cobalt and powders; waste and scrap; and other cobalt articles. No line carried an anti-dumping measure.

Cobalt oxides and hydroxides are in heading 2822, cobalt salts in chapter 28, and cemented carbide tips and inserts with a cobalt binder in 8209; see our carbide guide and confirm the commodity code.

CLP, REACH, scrap and responsible sourcing

Under retained Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (GB CLP), cobalt is classified as a respiratory and skin sensitiser, so powders need hazard labels, a safety data sheet and dust control at the user's site. A GB importer of one tonne or more a year must register under UK REACH, retained Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006, or use an only representative.

Cobalt scrap is waste, so imports follow the Transfrontier Shipment of Waste Regulations 2007 and need the correct waste classification and paperwork. Cobalt is not one of the minerals covered by conflict minerals rules, but battery, alloy and aerospace buyers often ask for supply chain due diligence to the OECD guidance, so ask the refiner for its audit record.

Specifying cobalt

Specify form (cathode, briquettes, rounds, powder), cobalt assay, limits for nickel, iron, copper, sulphur, carbon and oxygen, for powders the particle size (such as Fisher sub-sieve size), apparent density and flowability, packing in sealed drums under inert gas where needed, and a certificate of analysis per lot.

Worked duty example

For a made-up shipment of 2 tonnes of cobalt powder under 8105 20 00 00, add the £2,500 of freight and insurance to the £60,000 free-on-board price and customs sees £62,500. Duty on cobalt powder is zero, leaving import VAT of £12,500, 20% of the customs value. For a VAT-registered buyer that is a cash-flow cost rather than a lasting one. The duty and VAT guide walks through the calculation.

Inspection checklist

Documents: check the certificate of analysis, safety data sheet, refiner identity and due diligence record against the order.

Laboratory: assay an independent sample for cobalt and key impurities; for powder, check particle size, apparent density and oxygen.

Packing and weight: check drum seals, liners, labels with GB CLP pictograms and lot numbers, and weigh a sample of drums against the packing list.

What goes wrong

Cobalt orders fail on assay, oxidation and provenance. Assay or impurity results differ from the certificate, powder oxidises or picks up moisture in poorly sealed drums, weights fall short, and the refiner cannot show the due diligence record the end customer asks for.

Assay independently, check sealing, and agree provenance evidence before paying. See our quality inspection guide.

Cambridge China Bridge sources cobalt metal and powders for UK alloy, hardmetal and battery users, checking the refiner's laboratory and audit record first. See factory verification. For manganese procurement, see our manganese metal sourcing guide.

Related guides: Sourcing nickel scrap from China.