Sourcing high-purity quartz sand from China
High-purity quartz sand from China classified as quartz under 2506 10 00 00 pays 0% UK duty. Confirm that it is processed quartz rather than natural silica sand, which belongs in heading 2505, and plan controls for silica dust during handling. Cambridge China Bridge sources high-purity quartz sand.
Zero duty on qualifying quartz
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 November 2026, heading 2506 covers quartz other than natural sands and certain forms of quartzite. This guide concerns crushed high-purity quartz sold as sand. The table shows applications of the same quartz line, rather than separate tariff classifications. See the wider quartz and quartzite guide.
The supplied tariff record gives 0% duty for quartz from China under 2506 10 00 00, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension listed. It attaches import and export waste controls. Waste shipment controls apply only where the material is waste. For waste from China entering England under notification controls, the exporter starts the consent application in the dispatch country; shipment follows consent from the Environment Agency and the other competent authorities involved.
Give your broker the mineral origin, processing history, composition and intended use to confirm the commodity code. Natural silica sand belongs in heading 2505. For recovered or discarded material, confirm waste status and the applicable import requirements with your broker before shipping. Use the duty and VAT guide alongside the illustrative order.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crushed high-purity quartz sand for glass manufacture | 2506 10 00 00 | 0% | None |
Trace impurities, grain size and processing history
Specify silicon dioxide content and separate limits for iron, aluminium, titanium, sodium, potassium, lithium and boron. Agree the reporting units, analytical method and detection limits with the supplier and your laboratory. A headline purity figure alone does not show whether the material suits your glass, crucible or electronics process.
Agree particle size distribution, permitted fines and oversize, moisture and lined, sealed packing. Request a lot-specific certificate of analysis and an independently tested sample before approving supply. Establish the processing history and confirm with HSE whether the actual quartz grade qualifies for an exemption from UK REACH registration before relying on one. Fine quartz needs dust controls during handling. Britain's workplace exposure limit for respirable crystalline silica is 0.1 mg/m³ averaged over eight hours.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 40 tonnes of crushed high-purity quartz sand under 2506 10 00 00, invoiced at £36,000 free on board, with £6,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £42,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £42,000, so it is £8,400. 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
Chemistry: compare each lot's analysis with the agreed impurity limits; send a representative split sample for independent testing and retain a sealed counterpart.
Grain size: check the sieve or laser diffraction results against the agreed distribution, including fines and oversize, rather than accepting only an average size.
Moisture and cleanliness: test arrival moisture and inspect for caking, foreign particles and contamination from processing or loading equipment.
Packing and traceability: check liners, seals and bag integrity; match bag lot labels to analysis certificates and shipping documents, and review the silica safety data sheet.
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What goes wrong
An approved sample can meet the chemistry specification while the shipment contains a different lot. Iron or aluminium contamination can affect glass colour or crucible performance. Excess fines change handling behaviour and increase dust; moisture causes caking, while damaged liners expose the sand to contamination.
Agree sampling and acceptance criteria before ordering. Keep lots identifiable, compare arrival results with the approved sample and investigate failed chemistry or sizing before releasing material into production. A factory verification should examine processing, cleaning and lot segregation.
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 high-purity quartz sand from China?
The supplied tariff record gives 0% for quartz under 2506 10 00 00, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty listed. Confirm classification because natural silica sand belongs in heading 2505.
Does high-purity quartz sand always belong in heading 2506?
No. This guide covers processed quartz classified under 2506. Natural silica sand belongs in 2505. Ask your broker to assess origin and processing rather than relying on the supplier's product name.
What should a high-purity quartz analysis certificate show?
Lot identity, silicon dioxide content, individual trace impurities, analytical method, reporting units and detection limits. Check particle size and moisture separately against the purchase specification.
Does the tariff waste control apply to new quartz sand?
Waste shipment controls apply only if the material is waste. For recovered or discarded material from China, ask your broker to confirm waste status and the applicable consent or documentation requirements before shipping.