Sourcing lignite from China

Lignite duty and classification

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 17 November 2026, heading 2702 covers lignite, whether or not agglomerated, excluding jet. Non-agglomerated lignite, including pulverised material, uses 2702 10 00 00; agglomerated lignite uses 2702 20 00 00. The table shows different product forms sharing these codes.

Both supplied commodity lines carry 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff facts list no anti-dumping or countervailing measures, suspensions or attached import controls. This describes the tariff snapshot, rather than permission for every intended use or sales channel.

Give your customs broker the composition, processing description and product photographs to confirm the commodity code. For a briquette containing other ingredients, provide the full formulation rather than relying on the supplier’s description of brown coal.

Specify moisture, heat output and briquette composition

Specify lump, pulverised or agglomerated material; total moisture; calorific value; ash; sulphur; particle size; and the permitted fines content. State whether analytical results are reported on an as-received or dry basis. For briquettes, record the binder, other ingredients, dimensions and resistance to breakage.

Decide whether the order is for industrial use or domestic resale. Defra guidance says manufactured solid fuels sold for domestic use in England must be certified unless exempt. For domestic sales, establish whether the exact formulation falls within that category before ordering. UK smoke control areas also have rules about permitted fuels and appliances.

For a substance or mixture classified as hazardous, ask HSE or your customs broker to confirm the supplier's safety data sheet obligations under UK REACH. Request the sheet where applicable, and use it when agreeing unloading, storage and handling arrangements.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 20 tonnes of agglomerated lignite briquettes in bags under 2702 20 00 00, invoiced at £4,000 free on board, with £1,800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £5,800. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £5,800, so it is £1,160. 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

Analysis: sample across the lot and compare moisture, calorific value, ash and sulphur with the agreed specification on the same reporting basis.

Physical condition: check lump size and fines; inspect briquettes for cracking, crumbling and variation in shape.

Packing and weight: check bag seams, water damage, contamination and net weight; photograph the load before unloading.

Traceability: match bag markings and the analysis certificate to the shipment lot, and retain sealed samples. See quality inspection.

What goes wrong

Wet lignite adds weight while reducing usable heat per delivered load. A dry-basis certificate can conceal a mismatch with an as-received purchase specification. Brittle briquettes turn into fines during transport, and changes in binder or feedstock can alter ash and burning behaviour.

A customs description does not settle suitability for domestic resale. Resolve the intended market and certification position before approving packaging or loading. Compare representative shipment samples with the approved specification, rather than accepting a sample selected only by the supplier.

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.