Sourcing high-purity xenon gas from China

Xenon duty and tariff controls

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 2804 covers hydrogen, rare gases and other non-metals. High-purity xenon falls within other rare gases, code 2804 29 90 00. Goods from China carry 4% duty, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measure and no suspension recorded for this line. The table shows purchasing variants sharing that code.

The UK Trade Tariff attaches import and export waste controls to this line. For a China shipment involving waste gas, ask your customs broker to confirm whether import is permitted and which controls apply. Waste subject to notification cannot be shipped until the destination, dispatch and transit authorities have consented. Confirm the requirements before ordering recovered material or arranging a waste return.

Confirm the gas composition, intended use and cylinder arrangements through finding your commodity code. Cylinders may need separate classification if they are not returned. See the high-purity neon guide for related rare-gas sourcing under the wider heading.

Specify xenon impurities and cylinder connections

Specify xenon purity and separate limits for moisture, oxygen, nitrogen, hydrocarbons and other rare gases. Ask for a batch certificate showing the analytical method and detection limits. Agree whether purity is measured directly or calculated from measured impurities, and whether every cylinder is tested or represented by a batch sample.

Agree the gas quantity, measurement conditions, filling pressure, valve outlet and regulator connection. Ask for cylinder preparation and filling records, the safety data sheet and dangerous goods paperwork. Settle cylinder ownership, return arrangements and residual gas handling before shipment.

Cylinders must be approved transportable pressure equipment. For new cylinders supplied directly from China onto the Great Britain market, require the Rho conformity marking. Have the cylinder approval and inspection records checked before accepting the supplier's cylinder design.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: An illustrative small batch of high-purity xenon gas in cylinders under 2804 29 90 00, invoiced at £15,000 free on board, with £2,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £17,000. Duty at 4% is £680. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £17,680, so it is £3,536. Import taxes total £4,216; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £680 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Analysis: match the certificate to the filling batch and cylinder identifiers; check each contracted impurity limit and the laboratory's detection limits.

Cylinders: check approval markings, periodic inspection stamps, cylinder condition, valve protection and the supplied test records.

Connections: compare valve outlets with the agreed drawing and your regulator; arrange leak checks by personnel competent to handle the gas.

Traceability: match gas labels, cylinder identifiers and delivery documents. Agree independent purity testing through testing and certification before releasing the batch for use.

What goes wrong

A headline purity figure can hide moisture or an impurity that your process cannot tolerate. A certificate may describe the purification batch without identifying the cylinders actually filled. Ask for filling traceability and test methods that can measure below your agreed impurity limits.

An incompatible valve, damaged outlet or missing approval marking can prevent cylinder acceptance even when the gas meets specification. Record discrepancies before connecting the cylinder, keep affected stock aside and agree corrective action with the supplier.

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.