Sourcing Dipotassium Phosphate from China

4% duty on dipotassium phosphate

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 2835 covers phosphinates, phosphonates, phosphates and polyphosphates. Dipotassium phosphate falls within the potassium phosphates line, 2835 24 00 00. Its duty from China is 4%. No anti-dumping or countervailing measure is recorded. The 0% suspension on this line applies only to monobasic potassium phosphate.

The tariff attaches an import waste control and an export waste control to this line. Waste shipment controls apply only when the material is waste. For a Chinese consignment entering England under notification controls, the exporter must obtain consent through the dispatch-country authority. Confirm the shipment's waste status and applicable procedure with your customs broker before dispatch.

Give your broker the chemical identity, form, composition and intended use to confirm the commodity code. The table shows purchasing variants within the same tariff line. See phosphates and STPP for the wider heading.

Specify the phosphate identity and grade

Write dipotassium phosphate explicitly in the purchase specification. Agree whether the material is anhydrous or hydrated, the assay basis, moisture, insolubles, particle size and solution acidity test method. Specify food, technical or laboratory use rather than accepting a supplier's generic potassium phosphate description.

Confirm the applicable additive purity criteria for food-grade potassium phosphates with the Food Standards Agency. Request batch results for arsenic, lead and fluoride alongside assay and moisture. For chemical uses, establish your UK REACH position before importing; confirm with the Health and Safety Executive whether tailored provisions apply to the actual food-additive use.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 25 tonnes of technical-grade dipotassium phosphate under 2835 24 00 00, invoiced at £15,000 free on board, with £2,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £17,000. Duty at 4% is £680. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £17,680, so it is £3,536. Import taxes total £4,216; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £680 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Identity: check the bag description, invoice and batch certificate all identify dipotassium phosphate and the agreed form.

Analysis: compare assay, moisture and impurity results with the agreed specification, and independently test a representative sample.

Performance: check dissolution, insoluble residue and solution acidity using the agreed concentration and method.

Packing: check liners, seals, bag weights, batch marks and signs of dampness or caking. Include these checks in your inspection brief.

What goes wrong

A generic potassium phosphate quotation can conceal the wrong salt or grade. Results reported on a dry basis can also conceal excess moisture if the purchase specification uses an as-delivered basis. Agree the identity and reporting basis before approving the sample.

Damp or damaged packing can leave powder caked on arrival. A clean-looking powder does not establish food-grade purity. Keep doubtful batches separate while identity, impurity results and performance are checked against the purchase specification.

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.