Sourcing vermiculite insulation from China

Duty on exfoliated vermiculite insulation

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 5 November 2026, heading 6806 covers exfoliated vermiculite alongside other expanded minerals, mineral wools and mineral insulating mixtures and articles. Exfoliated vermiculite is within 6806 20 90 00. The table includes neighbouring materials for comparison; they are not alternative descriptions of vermiculite.

The supplied tariff lines carry 0% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension recorded. No import control is attached to 6806 20 90 00 in the supplied facts. Waste import controls are attached to 6806 90 00 00 and the mineral wool line. For those lines, confirm applicability with your customs broker. Waste shipped under notification controls requires consent from the competent authorities before shipment.

Give your broker the composition, processing details, intended use and whether the goods are loose granules, a mixture or a formed article. Confirm the commodity code before ordering. See the expanded perlite insulation guide for the wider heading.

Specify the granules and intended application

Write exfoliated vermiculite into the specification and distinguish loose-fill insulation from bonded boards or formulated mixes. Agree grain-size distribution, fines content, loose bulk density, moisture condition and bag fill quantity. Identify any binder or treatment, and retain an approved sample for comparison with production.

Ask for thermal performance evidence matching the supplied grade, density and application. For building products, establish whether a designated standard or technical assessment applies before agreeing the performance declaration and marking documents. Legitimately CE-marked construction products can continue to be supplied in Great Britain without an additional UK marking.

Vermiculite can carry asbestos contamination. Specify asbestos-free material, record the mineral source and obtain batch-linked reports from a laboratory competent in asbestos analysis. A supplier declaration alone is a poor basis for accepting an untested batch.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: An illustrative palletised shipment of bagged exfoliated vermiculite insulation under 6806 20 90 00, invoiced at £12,000 free on board, with £4,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £16,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £16,000, so it is £3,200. 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

Granules: compare sieve results and fines with the agreed specification and retained sample.

Density and fill: check loose bulk density using the agreed method and verify bag contents rather than judging by bag appearance.

Condition: inspect for damp material, foreign matter, split bags and leakage around seams.

Evidence: match batch identification to asbestos reports and thermal performance documents. Agree sampling through the quality inspection guide.

What goes wrong

A sample grade is replaced by a finer production grade, or handling breaks granules and increases dust. Bags can look full while their contents differ from the agreed quantity. Damp stock and torn packaging complicate storage and installation. Compare arrival samples with the approved material before releasing stock.

Thermal claims may refer to another density or a formulated product rather than the loose granules supplied. Mineral-source changes can also undermine earlier asbestos evidence. Agree that source, formulation and grade changes need buyer review, and arrange testing and certification 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.