Sourcing dithionites from China
Dithionites and sulphoxylates from China carry 0% UK duty across heading 2831, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty. Check the UK REACH registration position before importing, and obtain a safety data sheet for hazardous workplace supplies. Cambridge China Bridge sources dithionites and sulphoxylates.
Duty and waste controls
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 17 November 2026, heading 2831 covers dithionites and sulphoxylates. Sodium compounds use 2831 10 00 00; other compounds use 2831 90 00 00. Both carry 0% duty for goods from China, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing measure and no suspension.
The tariff attaches import and export waste controls to both lines. Waste shipment controls only apply to material that is waste. For imports into England under notification controls, the Chinese exporter must apply to the competent authority in the country of dispatch for consent. Confirm the applicable import requirements and any proposed return shipment with your customs broker and the relevant waste authority before shipping.
Identify the actual compound and provide its composition and intended use when confirming the commodity code. The supplied tariff file contains only the commodity lines shown here. Before a new import, consider whether UK REACH registration is required; see our UK REACH guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sodium dithionites and sulphoxylates | 2831 10 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Other dithionites and sulphoxylates | 2831 90 00 00 | 0% | None |
Specify compound, assay and reducing performance
For sodium dithionite, also sold as sodium hydrosulphite, write the chemical identity explicitly rather than relying on the trade name. Specify active content, moisture, insoluble matter, particle size and the assay method. For sulphoxylates, request the full composition so a similarly named reducing agent is not substituted.
Agree a reducing-performance test using your process conditions, a batch certificate of analysis and sealed packaging suitable for the handling conditions described in the safety data sheet. Ask the factory to explain how it samples and releases each batch.
Hazardous chemicals supplied for workplace use need a safety data sheet. Everyone in the supply chain must ensure correct labelling and packaging before placing chemicals on the market in Great Britain.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 20 tonnes of sodium dithionite under 2831 10 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 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £17,000, so it is £3,400. 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 the compound name and batch reference across the order, certificate, safety data sheet and container labels.
Assay: arrange representative sampling and independent testing of active content, moisture and insolubles against the agreed method.
Packaging: check seals, liners, closures, net weight and signs of water ingress or damaged containers.
Performance: compare a batch sample with the approved sample using the agreed reducing-performance test; plan quality inspection before dispatch.
Working out your own order? Send us the product on WhatsApp and we reply the same working day: WhatsApp us
What goes wrong
A trade name can conceal a different compound or formulation. A certificate without a clear assay method makes results difficult to compare, while damaged seals and poor moisture protection can leave the delivered batch outside specification. Check identity and packaging alongside laboratory results.
A batch that meets an assay figure can still perform poorly in the buyer's process. Agree the application test before ordering, and record the batch references and acceptance criteria so a disputed delivery can be compared with the approved sample.
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 dithionites from China?
Both commodity lines in heading 2831 carry 0% duty for goods from China in the supplied tariff reading, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty.
Does importing sodium dithionite require UK REACH registration?
Before importing a substance you have not previously imported, consider whether UK REACH registration is required. Confirm the position for your substance and supply arrangement before ordering.
Do waste controls apply to new sodium dithionite?
Waste shipment controls only apply if the material is waste. The tariff attaches waste controls to both lines, so confirm the material's status and applicable requirements with your broker.
What should I test in a sodium dithionite batch?
Check active content, moisture, insolubles and reducing performance using agreed methods. Match the tested sample to the shipment's batch reference and inspect container seals.