Sourcing casting mould fluxes from China
Continuous casting mould fluxes entered as foundry auxiliary products carry 6% UK duty from China, with no listed trade remedy or suspension. Confirm classification from the formulation. Before sale in Great Britain, check correct chemical labelling and packaging. Cambridge China Bridge sources continuous casting mould fluxes.
Duty and classification for mould fluxes
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 3824 covers prepared foundry binders and chemical preparations not elsewhere specified. The supplied line for foundry auxiliary products, 3824 99 65 00, carries 6% duty from China, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. The table shows product forms sharing this candidate line, rather than separate tariff subheadings.
The tariff attaches an import control for waste, plus export controls for waste, dangerous chemicals and goods for torture and repression. Ask your customs broker to confirm their relevance to the formulation and shipment. If material from China is waste subject to notification controls and destined for England, the exporter must seek consent through the dispatch country's competent authority; shipment can start only after the relevant authorities consent.
Confirm the commodity code using the composition, physical form and intended foundry use before ordering. For the wider heading, see foundry core binders. The UK import duty and VAT guide explains the calculation.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powdered continuous casting mould flux, subject to classification | 3824 99 65 00 | 6% | None |
Specify flux for the steel grade and caster
Give the factory the steel grade, caster type, casting conditions and existing approved flux specification. Agree powder or granulated form, oxide composition, basicity calculation, carbon and fluoride content, moisture and particle-size distribution. Specify viscosity and melting behaviour with the test methods and test temperatures, so laboratory results are comparable.
Request a batch certificate of analysis, safety data sheet and retained sample. Agree moisture-resistant bags, batch identification and storage instructions. Check UK REACH obligations for imported constituent substances. For sale in Great Britain, ensure the mixture is correctly labelled and packaged under the chemical classification, labelling and packaging rules.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 5 tonnes of continuous casting mould flux under 3824 99 65 00, invoiced at £26,000 free on board, with £2,400 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £28,400. Duty at 6% is £1,704. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £30,104, so it is £6,020.80. Import taxes total £7,724.80; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,704 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Chemistry: compare independent batch results with the agreed oxide, carbon, fluoride and moisture specification.
Flow and melting: check particle distribution, fines, caking, viscosity and melting behaviour against the approved sample using agreed methods.
Packing and documents: check sealed liners, dry pallets, bag condition, batch identification and matching analysis and safety documents on arrival.
Caster trial: agree acceptance criteria for feeding, slag-film behaviour, mould lubrication and surface defects before releasing the material for routine use.
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What goes wrong
A flux selected only by steel-grade name may behave differently under the buyer's casting conditions. Changed carbon content, particle distribution or melting behaviour can alter feeding and slag formation. Damp bags and broken granules can make an otherwise acceptable formulation difficult to use.
Quarantine damaged or unidentified bags and compare retained samples when results disagree. Keep trial records tied to the delivered batch, and agree how formula changes will be approved. Use quality inspection to define checks before shipment.
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 continuous casting mould flux from China?
The supplied tariff facts show 6% for foundry auxiliary products under 3824 99 65 00, with no listed trade remedy or suspension. Confirm that the formulation belongs in this line.
Does importing mould flux require UK REACH checks?
Yes. Check obligations for each constituent substance, rather than treating the mixture as a single registration. Annual substance volumes matter.
Can I approve mould flux from its analysis certificate alone?
Use the certificate alongside independent batch testing and a controlled caster trial. Agree chemistry, moisture, particle distribution, viscosity and melting tests before ordering.
Does the tariff waste control apply to fresh mould flux?
The tariff attaches a waste control. Ask your broker to confirm whether the shipment is classed as waste and which requirements apply; do not assume fresh flux and spent material follow the same route.