Sourcing foundry exothermic powders from China
Foundry exothermic powder blends classified as foundry auxiliary products carry 6% UK duty from China, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty. Before sale in Great Britain, the mixture must be classified and labelled under the chemical classification rules. Cambridge China Bridge sources foundry exothermic powder blends.
Foundry auxiliary products: 6% duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 3824 covers prepared foundry binders and other chemical preparations not elsewhere specified. Foundry auxiliary products under 3824 99 65 00 carry 6% duty from China, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing measure and no suspension. The table shows powder applications under the same candidate code, rather than separate tariff subdivisions.
The tariff attaches an import waste control and export controls concerning dangerous chemicals, waste, and goods for torture and repression. Confirm their applicability with your customs broker. For a China shipment to England handled under waste notification controls, shipment cannot proceed until the destination, dispatch and transit authorities have consented. Have the broker confirm the complete requirements before shipping any material supplied as waste.
Give your broker the composition, physical form and intended foundry use to confirm the commodity code. A product name alone is insufficient for the buying decision. For the wider heading and the distinction from mould or core binders, see our foundry core binders guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foundry auxiliary products: exothermic riser-cover powder blends | 3824 99 65 00 | 6% | None |
Specify heat release and foundry use
Specify whether the powder covers risers, feeds castings or treats ingot hot tops. Agree the metal and pouring conditions, ingredient identities and proportions, particle-size distribution, bulk density, moisture acceptance, ignition behaviour, heat-release duration and residue. Ask the factory to identify metallic fuels, oxidising ingredients and fluoride-containing ingredients, where present, and agree how recipe changes will be approved.
Substances and mixtures placed on the Great Britain market must be classified and labelled under its chemical classification rules. Suppliers must also ensure correct packaging before placing them on that market. Obtain an English safety data sheet for review, and confirm UK REACH obligations for constituent substances and annual import quantities with HSE. Agree a controlled foundry trial and acceptance criteria before approving the production batch.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 5 tonnes of bagged exothermic riser-cover powder under 3824 99 65 00, invoiced at £2,400 free on board, with £600 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £3,000. Duty at 6% is £180. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £3,180, so it is £636. Import taxes total £816; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £180 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Composition: compare the batch analysis with the approved recipe, and keep a sealed retained sample. Check ingredient substitutions with the buyer before accepting the lot.
Performance: use an agreed controlled trial to compare ignition, heat-release duration, coverage and residue with the approved sample under the buyer's foundry conditions.
Condition: inspect for dampness, caking, segregation and damaged liners. Compare moisture, particle size and bulk density with the agreed acceptance criteria.
Documents and packing: match batch identifiers across bags, analysis reports and delivery documents. Review the safety data sheet, hazard labels and packaging against the assessed formulation. See quality inspection explained.
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What goes wrong
A powder can match the sample's appearance yet behave differently in the foundry. Changes in metallic fuel, oxidising ingredients, particle size or moisture can alter ignition and heat release. Segregation can make performance uneven across bags, while damp or torn packing can leave caked material that spreads poorly.
Ask the factory to document blending, sampling and moisture-control practices through factory verification. Hold a changed recipe for review, and investigate failed trials against the retained sample and batch records before accepting a replacement.
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 foundry exothermic powder from China?
Foundry auxiliary products under 3824 99 65 00 carry 6% duty in the supplied tariff facts, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. Confirm that your formulation fits this code.
Can I use the Chinese supplier's commodity code?
Use it as a starting point. Give your customs broker the full composition, powder form and foundry application to check the UK classification before dispatch.
What should I test before buying exothermic powder?
Agree checks for composition, moisture, particle size and bulk density, followed by a controlled foundry trial covering ignition, heat-release duration and residue.
Does UK REACH apply to an imported powder blend?
Check the constituent substances and annual import quantities. Confirm with HSE which UK REACH obligations apply; assess this by substance rather than total blend weight.