Sourcing iron carbide powder from China
Iron carbide powder from China falls within the other-carbides line, carrying 4% UK duty with no rate variation in the supplied heading data. Chemicals supplied in Great Britain must be classified and labelled under GB chemical supply rules. Specify carbide phase as well as carbon content. Cambridge China Bridge sources iron carbide powder.
UK duty on iron carbide powder
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 2849 covers carbides, whether or not chemically defined. Iron carbide powder is a candidate for the other-carbides line, 2849 90 90 00. The supplied data show 4% duty on goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension.
The tariff attaches import and export waste controls. Establish whether the shipment is manufactured powder or waste. For imports into England subject to waste notification controls, the exporter in China must apply to the competent authority in the dispatch country for consent. Ask your customs broker to confirm the requirements for the actual material, destination and route, including any proposed return shipment.
Confirm the commodity code using the composition, physical form and intended use, especially for blends or processed products. Only the relevant other-carbides line is shown here. For the wider heading, see our silicon and tungsten carbide guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other carbides, including iron carbide powder | 2849 90 90 00 | 4% | None |
Specify the carbide phase, not just carbon
Ask the factory to identify the iron carbide phase and provide a batch certificate of analysis. Specify the agreed phase content, total carbon, free carbon, free iron, oxygen and impurities. Request an agreed phase-identification method, such as X-ray diffraction, because a bulk carbon result alone does not establish which carbide phases are present.
Specify particle-size distribution, the measurement method, acceptable agglomeration and packing. Agree whether the powder contains a coating, carrier or other additive. Approve a sample in your actual process and retain a comparison sample before ordering the production batch.
Confirm with HSE whether UK REACH registration or only-representative coverage is needed for your substance and annual import volume before importing. Substances and mixtures placed on the Great Britain market must be classified and labelled under the GB CLP Regulation. A safety data sheet is required when a hazardous chemical is supplied for use at work; request one for the exact grade.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 25 kg of iron carbide powder under 2849 90 90 00, invoiced at £2,500 free on board, with £1,300 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £3,800. Duty at 4% is £152. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £3,952, so it is £790.40. Import taxes total £942.40; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £152 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Identity: match the batch certificate to the container labels and verify the agreed iron carbide phase by the agreed analytical method.
Composition: compare total carbon, free carbon, free iron, oxygen and impurity results with the purchase specification.
Particle size: test representative samples against the agreed distribution and examine hard agglomerates that may affect dispersion.
Packing: check seals, moisture, leakage, contamination and batch identification. Retain samples and record results using the quality inspection guide.
Working out your own order? Send us the product on WhatsApp and we reply the same working day: WhatsApp us
What goes wrong
A powder sold simply as iron carbide can arrive with an unsuitable phase composition or excessive free iron or carbon. A certificate giving only total carbon can conceal that mismatch. Different particle-size methods can also make apparently similar certificates difficult to compare.
Moisture, oxidation, contamination and hard agglomerates can make the delivered powder behave differently from the approved sample. Agree the tests and rejection criteria before shipment, and investigate a mismatch before blending the batch into your stock.
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 iron carbide powder from China?
The supplied tariff data show 4% for other carbides, 2849 90 90 00, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. Confirm that the actual powder belongs in this line.
Does iron carbide powder need UK REACH registration?
Confirm with HSE whether registration or only-representative coverage is needed for your chemical identity and annual import volume. Confirm the chemical identity and your annual imports before ordering.
Is total carbon enough to check iron carbide powder?
No. Agree phase identification alongside total carbon, free carbon and free iron testing. Match the results to the approved sample and purchase specification.
Why does the tariff show a waste control?
The supplied tariff attaches waste controls to this line. Ask your customs broker to confirm whether they affect the actual shipment, particularly recovered material, residues or a proposed return.