Sourcing indium ingots from China

Duty on unwrought indium

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 6 November 2026, unwrought indium under 8112 92 81 00 carries 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied record shows no anti-dumping or countervailing measure, suspension or attached import control for this line. Import VAT at 20% still applies.

Heading 8112 covers indium alongside other minor metals and their articles. The table repeats the unwrought indium line for different purchasing uses; these are not separate tariff classifications. This guide concerns ingots, rather than powders, scrap or fabricated articles. See the wider minor-metals guide.

Confirm the commodity code against the actual composition and form supplied. Describe the goods consistently in the purchase order, assay report and shipping documents.

Specify indium purity and batch chemistry

Write the required indium purity, individual impurity limits, analytical method and reporting limits into the order. A headline purity figure alone does not tell you whether a troublesome trace element meets your process specification. Agree ingot dimensions, individual weight range, surface condition and packaging.

Ask for a batch certificate of analysis identifying the sampled lot and laboratory. Agree independent testing of a retained sample, including how samples are selected and sealed. Use testing and certification support to arrange the analytical scope.

Chemical importers are responsible for hazard classification. Assess the material supplied rather than treating the absence of tariff controls as chemical compliance. UK REACH registration is per substance and per legal entity; check your registration position before importing.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 200 kg of indium ingots; illustrative order and values, not a market quotation under 8112 92 81 00, invoiced at £60,000 free on board, with £800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £60,800. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £60,800, so it is £12,160. 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

Identity: match package labels, batch references and the certificate of analysis to the ordered indium ingots.

Chemistry: compare each reported impurity and the analytical reporting limits with the agreed specification; retain a sealed sample for disputes.

Weight: weigh the ingots independently and distinguish net metal weight from wrapping and containers.

Condition: check seals, moisture, surface contamination and handling damage; photograph discrepancies before unpacking the whole lot.

What goes wrong

A supplier may provide a general purity certificate instead of an assay for the shipped batch. An apparently acceptable result can also leave important impurities untested or below an unsuitable reporting limit. Accept the lot against the agreed analytical scope, rather than the certificate heading.

Mixed batches, short net weight and contaminated surfaces create further disputes. Keep package photographs, weighing records and sealed samples linked to the batch. Agree the response to an out-of-specification result before payment.

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.