Garnet, pumice and other abrasives from China
Pumice stone, emery, natural corundum, natural garnet and other natural abrasives from China, whether or not heat-treated, pay 0% UK duty on both lines of heading 2513, with no anti-dumping duty. Garnet for waterjet cutting and blasting is bought on mesh size, hardness, chloride and free silica content, and pumice on grade and cleanliness.
Garnet sand for waterjet and blasting, emery, natural corundum and pumice stone from China pay 0% UK duty. Grading, dust and contamination checks.
0% duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 27 September 2026, heading 2513 covers pumice stone, emery, natural corundum, natural garnet and other natural abrasives, whether or not heat-treated. Both lines, pumice stone (2513 10 00 00) and emery, natural corundum, natural garnet and other natural abrasives (2513 20 00 00), carried 0% on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure.
Artificial corundum and silicon carbide are chapter 28, abrasives on a backing are heading 6805 (see our sandpaper guide), and bonded wheels 6804 (see our grinding and cutting wheels guide); confirm the commodity code.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pumice stone | 2513 10 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Emery, natural corundum, natural garnet and other natural abrasives | 2513 20 00 00 | 0% | None |
Safety and chemical rules
Natural abrasives are substances under UK REACH, and the safety data sheet should state crystalline silica and other hazardous content. Blasting media produce dust, so buyers set a free silica limit and use the supplier's data in their own workplace risk assessment.
Specifying abrasives
Specify mineral (almandine garnet, emery, corundum, pumice), mesh or grit range, hardness, bulk density, free silica, chloride and soluble salts, moisture, and packing in 25 kg bags or bulk bags.
Worked duty example
Suppose, purely for illustration, you import 40 tonnes of 80 mesh garnet abrasive for waterjet cutting under 2513 20 00 00. At £14,000 free on board and £3,200 to ship and insure, the customs value is £17,200. With 0% duty on garnet abrasive, the only charge is import VAT: 20% of £17,200, or £3,440. VAT-registered businesses usually recover that in their next return. The method is set out in how UK import duty and VAT work.
Inspection checklist
Grading: sieve samples against the specified mesh range and check fines content.
Purity: check free silica, chloride and foreign mineral content on the certificate and a test sample.
Moisture and packing: check moisture, bag integrity and lot marking.
What goes wrong
Abrasive orders fail on grading, contamination and moisture. Mesh drifts so cutting speed changes, garnet is blended with cheaper minerals, chloride is high enough to affect blasted steel, and damp media clog feed systems.
Test lots before shipping. See our quality inspection guide.
Cambridge China Bridge sources garnet, emery and pumice for UK waterjet, blasting and cosmetic buyers, checking the processor's grading first. See factory verification.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on garnet abrasive from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 27 September 2026, natural garnet under 2513 20 00 00 carried 0% from China.
Is pumice stone also 0%?
Yes. Pumice stone under 2513 10 00 00 carried 0%.
Are artificial abrasives in heading 2513?
No. Artificial corundum and silicon carbide are chapter 28.
What should blasting media specifications include?
Mesh range, free silica, chloride and moisture limits.