Sourcing industrial gases and silicon from China
Hydrogen, rare gases and other non-metals from China pay 0% to 4% UK duty: argon, nitrogen and industrial oxygen 4%, hydrogen 2%, and helium, silicon of every purity and selenium 0%, while phosphorus and medical oxygen are 0% under suspensions to 2028, with no anti-dumping duty. Cylinders must be approved transportable pressure equipment. Cambridge China Bridge sources them.
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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.
Rechecked on 27 September 2026, the other lines of the heading are: rare gases other than argon and helium, such as neon, krypton and xenon (2804 29 90 00), 4%; boron 4%; tellurium 2%, with a 0% suspension to 31 December 2028 for tellurium of 99.99% purity or more; arsenic 2%; and selenium 0%.
Two suspensions to 31 December 2028 take lines to 0%: medical oxygen of at least 82% purity, free from contamination and produced by an oil-free compressor, in cylinders or liquid (2804 40 00 00), and red and other phosphorus (2804 70), which would otherwise pay 4%. Industrial oxygen stays at 4%.
Gas cylinders themselves are in heading 7311 and may be declared separately if not returned; confirm the commodity code.
The lines under heading 2804 are in the hydrogen sector of the UK carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM), which applies to imports from 1 January 2027. An importer who expects £50,000 or more of CBAM goods within 30 days, or has imported that much in the previous 12 months, must register, keep records for 6 years, and should ask suppliers for emissions data now. See our UK CBAM guide.
| 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%; medical oxygen 0% to 2028 | None |
| Red phosphorus | 2804 70 10 00 | 4%; 0% to 31 Dec 2028 | None |
| Other phosphorus | 2804 70 90 00 | 4%; 0% to 31 Dec 2028 | None |
| Silicon, 99.99% or more | 2804 61 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Other silicon, such as silicon metal | 2804 69 00 90 | 0% | None |
| Other rare gases (neon, krypton, xenon) | 2804 29 90 00 | 4% | None |
| Boron | 2804 50 10 00 | 4% | None |
| Tellurium | 2804 50 90 00 | 2%; 0% for 99.99% or more to 31 Dec 2028 | None |
| Arsenic | 2804 80 00 00 | 2% | None |
| Selenium | 2804 90 00 00 | 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. For silane and related compounds, see our nitrides, hydrides and silicides guide.
Worked duty example
Suppose, purely for illustration, you import 50 tonnes of 553 grade silicon metal under 2804 69 00 90. At £95,000 free on board and £4,000 to ship and insure, the customs value is £99,000. With 0% duty on silicon metal, the only charge is import VAT: 20% of £99,000, or £19,800. VAT-registered businesses usually recover that in their next return. The method is set out in how UK import duty and VAT work.
Inspection checklist
Silicon metal: samples taken from several bags of each lot and analysed for iron, aluminium and calcium by ICP or XRF against the grade named in GB/T 2881 or the contract, the lump size range checked by sieving with the fines percentage recorded, and bag weights checked on a calibrated scale.
Gas purity: a certificate of analysis per batch showing purity by gas chromatography, moisture by dew point and the named impurities with the test method, and a retained sample from the fill; medical oxygen is a medicine, so it also needs the MHRA licensing the supply chain requires and quality to the European Pharmacopoeia oxygen monograph.
Cylinders and valves: each cylinder carrying the conformity marking for transportable pressure equipment and an in-date periodic inspection stamp, valves to ISO 10297 with the outlet the buyer uses, shoulder colours to BS EN 1089-3, caps or guards fitted, and dangerous goods labels matching the gas.
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What goes wrong
Silicon metal fails on grade and size; gases fail on purity and cylinders. A lot sold as 553 or 441 can carry more iron, aluminium or calcium than the grade allows, which matters to aluminium alloy and silicone makers, and lump size drifts so there are too many fines. Speciality gases arrive with moisture or impurity levels above the certificate, and cylinders turn up with out-of-date test marks, damaged valves or no approval marking for use in Great Britain.
Take samples from several bags of each silicon lot for independent analysis and a sieve test, and check the bag weights and linings. For gases, ask for a certificate of analysis per cylinder batch with the test method, check the test date, valve type, cap and markings on each cylinder, and agree the return or ownership terms before shipment.
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%.
Is medical oxygen from China duty-free?
Yes, under a suspension to 31 December 2028 for medical oxygen of at least 82% purity from an oil-free compressor; industrial oxygen pays 4%.
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.