Sourcing industrial gases and silicon from China
Hydrogen, rare gases and other non-metals from China pay 0% to 4% UK duty: argon, nitrogen, oxygen and phosphorus 4%, hydrogen 2%, and helium, silicon of every purity and selenium 0%, with no anti-dumping duty. Gases travel in cylinders or tanks that must be approved transportable pressure equipment, and most are dangerous goods for transport. Cambridge China Bridge sources them.
Argon, nitrogen and oxygen pay 4% UK duty from China, hydrogen 2%, and helium, silicon metal and selenium 0%. Cylinders and dangerous goods explained.
Duty by element
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 25 September 2026, the rates below applied to heading 2804 goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure. Some silicon lines are split for consignments from Korea and Taiwan; goods shipped from China use the other lines.
Gas cylinders themselves are in heading 7311 and may be declared separately if not returned; confirm the commodity code.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hydrogen | 2804 10 00 00 | 2% | None |
| Argon | 2804 21 00 00 | 4% | None |
| Helium | 2804 29 10 00 | 0% | None |
| Nitrogen | 2804 30 00 00 | 4% | None |
| Oxygen | 2804 40 00 00 | 4% | None |
| Silicon, 99.99% or more | 2804 61 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Other silicon, such as silicon metal | 2804 69 00 90 | 0% | None |
Cylinders and dangerous goods
Compressed and liquefied gases are dangerous goods, and the Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2009 require cylinders, tubes and tanks used in Great Britain to be approved transportable pressure equipment. Agree who owns the cylinders, how they are returned and which test and marking they carry before ordering.
Silicon and purity
For silicon metal, specify grade by iron, aluminium and calcium content (for example 553 or 441), lump size and packing. For high-purity silicon and electronic gases, ask for certificates of analysis with impurity limits and the test method, and a UK REACH position on registration.
Documents and inspection
Ask for the safety data sheet, dangerous goods declaration and cylinder test records. At inspection, check valve protection, labels and batch certificates.
Cambridge China Bridge sources silicon metal and speciality gases, with purity, cylinders and dangerous goods handling settled before the order. See how our sourcing service works.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on silicon metal from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 25 September 2026, silicon of every purity carried 0% duty from China, with no anti-dumping duty.
What duty applies to argon and nitrogen?
4% from China on 25 September 2026; helium was 0% and hydrogen 2%.
Do gas cylinders need approval in Great Britain?
Yes. They must be approved transportable pressure equipment under the 2009 dangerous goods regulations.
Why are there Korea and Taiwan silicon lines?
They cover silicon consigned from those places; shipments from China use the other lines.