Sourcing coke and semi-coke from China

Duty on coke, semi-coke and retort carbon

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 17 November 2026, heading 2704 covers coke and semi-coke of coal, lignite or peat, whether or not agglomerated, and retort carbon. Coal coke and lignite coke have separate commodity lines; peat coke and retort carbon share the other line in the supplied record.

Every listed line carries 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control. The table separates peat coke and retort carbon for purchasing purposes, although they share a code. Petroleum coke belongs to heading 2713, covered in our petroleum coke guide.

Confirm the commodity code using the feedstock, production description and any agglomeration or added ingredients. Ask your customs broker to check the current tariff before declaring the shipment.

Specify coke for the furnace

State whether you need coal coke, lignite semi-coke, peat coke or retort carbon. Describe the intended use and agree fixed carbon, sulphur, ash, volatile matter and moisture limits, together with the particle size range and permitted fines. Record whether analysis is on a dry or as-received basis.

For foundry coke, agree lump strength and a handling test so the material remains within the agreed size range after unloading. For semi-coke, match volatile matter and reactivity to the buyer's process. Agree representative sampling, independent laboratory checks, batch identification and a retained sample.

For supply in Great Britain, UK REACH requires businesses to identify and manage the risks of substances they place on the market. Review the exact material's chemical compliance position with a competent adviser. If supplying blended domestic fuel in England, check whether manufactured solid fuel certification applies; covered fuels must be certified unless exempt.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 20 tonnes of graded foundry coke in bulk bags under 2704 00 10 00, invoiced at £24,000 free on board, with £1,800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £25,800. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £25,800, so it is £5,160. 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

Analysis: compare independent results for fixed carbon, sulphur, ash, volatile matter and moisture with the agreed specification and batch certificate.

Sizing: sieve representative samples for lumps and fines, and repeat the agreed handling check to assess breakage.

Condition: inspect for wet pockets, foreign material, mixed grades and damaged bulk bags before accepting the load.

Traceability: match bag markings, batch certificates and retained samples to the shipment; compare recorded weights with the agreed moisture basis.

What goes wrong

A supplier's description of metallurgical or foundry grade can hide a different feedstock, excessive ash or sulphur, or weak lumps. Breakage during loading and unloading creates fines that affect furnace operation. Wet material also changes the relationship between delivered weight and usable dry coke.

Agree acceptance tests before ordering and sample the shipment before loading and on arrival. A certificate for an earlier batch cannot establish the quality of the delivered lot. Use the quality inspection guide to plan checks and factory verification to examine the producer's process and laboratory.

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.