Sourcing hydrofluoric acid from China
Hydrofluoric acid from China carries a single UK duty rate of 4%, with no listed trade remedy or suspension. For Great Britain, check UK REACH registration coverage, chemical labelling and dangerous-goods arrangements before ordering this toxic, corrosive acid. Cambridge China Bridge sources hydrofluoric acid.
Hydrofluoric acid: 4% duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 2811 covers other inorganic acids and other inorganic oxygen compounds of non-metals. Hydrogen fluoride, including hydrofluoric acid, is listed under 2811 11 00 00 at 4% duty for goods from China. No anti-dumping duty, countervailing duty or suspension is listed for this line. The table repeats this commodity line for different buying specifications, rather than separate tariff subdivisions.
The tariff attaches import and export waste controls. For spent acid or other material that may be waste, ask your customs broker to confirm the applicable requirements before shipment from China. For waste entering England under notification controls, the exporter must apply for consent to the competent authority in the country of dispatch.
Confirm the composition and commodity code before ordering, especially if the supplier offers an acid preparation containing other ingredients. For the wider heading, see hydrobromic acid and related inorganic acids.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hydrofluoric acid for industrial use | 2811 11 00 00 | 4% | None |
Specify concentration and trace-metal limits
Specify acid concentration, acceptable variation, intended process and named impurity limits. For electronics use, agree trace-metal limits and the laboratory method rather than accepting an unexplained grade name. Require a certificate of analysis tied to the production batch, with concentration measured by titration and trace metals checked against the agreed specification.
For Great Britain, confirm with HSE whether UK REACH registration is required for your planned annual imports and whether any exemption applies. Ask HSE to confirm whether the importer or the manufacturer's UK only representative can cover the supply. Check the English safety data sheet and applicable classification, labelling and packaging requirements before supply. See our UK REACH guide.
Hydrofluoric acid is acutely toxic and corrosive. Agree approved dangerous-goods packaging, transport documentation and the consignee's handling arrangements before dispatch. Establish procedures for reporting suspicious transactions, disappearances and thefts before resale.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 25 kg of laboratory-use hydrofluoric acid; FOB and freight values are illustrative under 2811 11 00 00, invoiced at £2,000 free on board, with £2,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £4,000. Duty at 4% is £160. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £4,160, so it is £832. Import taxes total £992; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £160 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Batch identity: match container batch markings to the certificate of analysis, purchase specification and shipping documents.
Concentration and impurities: arrange testing by a laboratory equipped to handle hydrofluoric acid; compare results with the agreed concentration and trace-metal limits.
Containers: have trained personnel check for leakage, damaged closures and packaging approval markings before accepting the delivery.
Labels and documents: match the English safety data sheet, hazard labels and dangerous-goods paperwork to the supplied composition. Agree these checks in the inspection brief.
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What goes wrong
An acid can meet its concentration specification while failing the buyer's trace-metal limits. A generic certificate that does not identify the shipment's batch cannot resolve that problem. Agree the test methods and acceptance limits before production, then compare the actual batch results before dispatch.
Leaking drums and documents describing a different concentration create handling and shipping problems. Resolve discrepancies before loading. At arrival, have trained personnel manage suspect containers under the site's handling procedures, and arrange suitable laboratory testing rather than informal sampling.
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 hydrofluoric acid from China?
The supplied tariff record shows 4% for 2811 11 00 00, with no listed anti-dumping duty, countervailing duty or suspension.
Does hydrofluoric acid need UK REACH registration?
Confirm with HSE whether your planned annual imports of the substance into Great Britain require registration or qualify for an exemption. Check the importer's position and ask whether any manufacturer's UK only representative coverage applies.
What should an electronics buyer specify?
Specify concentration, named trace-metal limits, test methods and batch acceptance criteria. Request a certificate for the actual production batch.
How should hydrofluoric acid be inspected on arrival?
Use trained personnel to check container condition, closures, labels and batch documents. Have a suitably equipped laboratory verify concentration and impurities.