Corundum and aluminium hydroxide from China
Brown and white fused alumina, calcined and activated alumina and aluminium hydroxide from China pay 4% UK duty with no anti-dumping duty. Suspensions bring artificial corundum of more than 98.5% aluminium oxide to 0% until 30 June 2027, and activated alumina of 350 m²/g or more, fine ATH powder and boehmite to 0% until 2028. Cambridge China Bridge sources these grades.
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4%, with suspensions by grade
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 26 September 2026, artificial corundum, other aluminium oxide and aluminium hydroxide carried 4% duty on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure. Suspensions give 0% to artificial corundum of more than 98.5% aluminium oxide in grains mostly under 10 mm from 14 February 2026 to 30 June 2027, and to activated alumina with a specific surface area of at least 350 m²/g, aluminium hydroxide powder of 99.5% purity or more with the particle size and soda limits in the tariff, and boehmite or pseudoboehmite to 31 December 2028. Aluminium hydroxide for pharmaceutical use enters at 0% under additional code 2500.
The split between codes is by aluminium oxide content and by the share of grains over 10 mm, so white fused alumina and brown fused alumina usually fall on different lines. Grinding wheels and coated abrasives made from the grain are in headings 6804 and 6805; see our grinding wheels guide. Confirm the commodity code.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corundum of 98.5% Al2O3 or more, mostly under 10 mm (white fused) | 2818 10 11 99 | 4%; 0% to 30 Jun 2027 above 98.5% | None |
| Corundum of 98.5% or more, mostly over 10 mm | 2818 10 19 00 | 4% | None |
| Corundum under 98.5% Al2O3, mostly under 10 mm (brown fused) | 2818 10 91 99 | 4% | None |
| Activated alumina, 350 m²/g or more | 2818 20 00 10 | 4%; 0% to 31 Dec 2028 | None |
| Other aluminium oxide, such as calcined alumina | 2818 20 00 90 | 4% | None |
| Aluminium hydroxide powder meeting the tariff specification | 2818 30 00 20 | 4%; 0% to 31 Dec 2028 | None |
| Boehmite or pseudoboehmite | 2818 30 00 30 | 4%; 0% to 31 Dec 2028 | None |
| Other aluminium hydroxide | 2818 30 00 90 | 4%; 0% for pharmaceutical use | None |
Grit sizes and grades
Abrasive grain is ordered by FEPA grit size, macrogrits F4 to F220 under FEPA 42-1 and the equivalent ISO 8486-1 for bonded abrasives, with microgrits sized separately, and by chemistry: aluminium oxide, titanium dioxide for brown fused alumina, sodium oxide for white fused alumina, and magnetic material. Refractory grades add bulk density and grain size fractions for castables.
Aluminium hydroxide (ATH) used as a flame retardant in cables and polymers is ordered by median particle size, whiteness, soda content and surface treatment, and activated alumina for drying and defluoridation by surface area, bead size and crush strength. An importer of more than one tonne a year should check UK REACH registration; see our UK REACH guide.
Worked duty example
For a made-up shipment of 20 tonnes of brown fused alumina abrasive grit under 2818 10 91 99, add the £2,200 of freight and insurance to the £18,000 free-on-board price and customs sees £20,200. At 4%, duty on these brown fused alumina is £808; import VAT of £4,201.60 is 20% of the value with duty added. Together that is £5,009.60, but a VAT-registered importer usually gets the VAT back. White fused alumina of more than 98.5% aluminium oxide under 2818 10 11 99 would pay nothing on the same value until 30 June 2027, so the analysis on the certificate decides the duty. The duty and VAT guide walks through the calculation.
What goes wrong
Alumina lots fail on chemistry and sizing. Grit contains too many fines or oversize grains, so finishes vary and wheels break down fast; titanium dioxide or magnetic material is outside the grade; white fused alumina arrives below 98.5%, which also loses the duty suspension. ATH arrives coarser or with more soda than the data sheet, which spoils cable compound properties, and bags pick up moisture in transit.
Test each lot for particle size distribution by sieving for macrogrits or laser diffraction for fine powders, for chemistry by XRF against the grade, and for magnetic content, bulk density and moisture, keep the certificate matched to the lot number, and check big bags and liners for damage and moisture before loading.
Cambridge China Bridge sources fused alumina, calcined alumina, ATH and activated alumina for abrasive, refractory, cable and water treatment users, and can qualify a second smelter alongside a current one. See our second-supplier service.
Related guides: Sourcing bauxite and aluminium ores from China. See also our lithium hydroxide and metal oxides sourcing guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on fused alumina from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 26 September 2026, artificial corundum carried 4% from China, with no anti-dumping duty; grades above 98.5% aluminium oxide have 0% to 30 June 2027.
Is aluminium hydroxide duty-free?
Aluminium hydroxide carried 4%, but fine ATH powder meeting the tariff specification and boehmite enter at 0% to 31 December 2028.
How is abrasive grain sized?
By FEPA grit size, with macrogrits F4 to F220 under FEPA 42-1 and ISO 8486-1.
What goes wrong most often?
Grit size distribution outside the grade, chemistry below specification, and wet or damaged bags.