Sourcing lanthanum metal from China
Lanthanum metal from China carries 2% base UK duty, reduced to 0% by the listed suspension for qualifying metal; relevant rare-earth blends can carry 4%. Check composition, UK REACH duties and correct chemical labelling before supply in Great Britain. Cambridge China Bridge sources lanthanum metal.
Lanthanum duty and composition
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 4 October 2026, heading 2805 covers rare-earth metals, including lanthanum. Lanthanum of at least 95% purity by weight falls under 2805 30 21 20: its base duty for goods from China is 2%, with a listed 0.00 % suspension. Other separated lanthanum under 2805 30 80 00 carries 2% without a listed suspension. The comparison rows cover lanthanum-containing rare-earth blends.
The suspension excludes mixtures, preparations and products made up of different components containing the metal. Other rare-earth intermixtures carry 4%; the listed cerium alloy line has its own suspension. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty is recorded for these rows. The tariff attaches import and export waste controls. For scrap or recovery material from China, ask your customs broker to confirm the applicable requirements. Waste under notification controls cannot ship until the dispatch, destination and transit authorities have consented.
Give your broker the full composition, purity by total weight and physical form before confirming the commodity code. A certificate reporting lanthanum only as a share of total rare earths needs clarification. See the cerium metal guide for wider heading comparisons.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lanthanum metal of at least 95% purity by weight | 2805 30 21 20 | 2% | None |
| Other separated lanthanum metal below 95% purity by weight | 2805 30 80 00 | 2% | None |
| Other lanthanum-containing rare-earth intermixtures or interalloys | 2805 30 10 80 | 4% | None |
| Cerium-lanthanum rare-earth alloy containing at least 47% cerium by weight | 2805 30 10 10 | 4% | None |
Specify lanthanum purity and sealed packaging
Specify lanthanum content by total weight, total rare-earth content and individual rare-earth impurities, especially cerium. Agree limits for iron, oxygen, carbon and nitrogen, the test methods and a batch-specific certificate of analysis. State whether you need ingots or pieces, their dimensions and the permitted surface condition. Agree argon or vacuum sealing and how samples will be taken without compromising the remaining metal.
Check UK REACH responsibilities against annual import volume before ordering. Registration is per substance and per legal entity. Before sale in Great Britain, ensure correct chemical labelling and packaging. A safety data sheet is required when a hazardous chemical is supplied for workplace use. Ask for a sheet matching the actual composition and physical form.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 50 kg of separated lanthanum metal below 95% purity, in sealed drums under 2805 30 80 00, invoiced at £2,000 free on board, with £500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £2,500. Duty at 2% is £50. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £2,550, so it is £510. Import taxes total £560; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £50 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Identity: match drum markings, batch numbers and the certificate to the ordered lanthanum grade.
Assay: independently check lanthanum content and trace rare earths; check oxygen, carbon, nitrogen and iron against the agreed specification.
Sealing: check drums and inner seals for damage, moisture and evidence of air exposure; record unexpected surface oxidation.
Documents: compare hazard labels with the safety data sheet and match the tested composition to the proposed customs declaration. Agree sampling with your inspection provider.
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What goes wrong
A supplier reports high total rare-earth content while the lanthanum share is lower than ordered. Cerium contamination changes the material delivered, and damaged seals allow oxidation. A certificate from a different batch can hide either problem. Keep affected drums separate while an independent laboratory checks the discrepancy.
A lanthanum-containing blend is ordered or declared as separated lanthanum, creating a mismatch between the assay and the suspension claimed. Resolve the composition and classification before dispatch. An acceptable purity certificate also leaves chemical labelling, packaging and UK REACH responsibilities to be checked separately.
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 lanthanum metal from China?
The base duty is 2%. Qualifying lanthanum under 2805 30 21 20 has a listed 0.00 % suspension; other separated lanthanum under 2805 30 80 00 stays at 2%. Relevant rare-earth blends can carry 4%.
Does a high rare-earth assay prove lanthanum purity?
Ask for lanthanum content by total weight as well as total rare-earth content and individual impurities. A high total rare-earth assay can include cerium and other rare earths.
How should lanthanum metal be packed?
Agree sealed drums with argon or vacuum protection, following the product's safety data sheet. Check inner seals and drum damage on arrival, and arrange sampling without exposing the remaining metal unnecessarily.
What must I check before selling lanthanum metal in Great Britain?
Check UK REACH duties, correct chemical labelling and packaging. Supply a safety data sheet when the chemical is hazardous and supplied for workplace use. Match the documents to the actual grade and form.