Sourcing lithium chloride from China
Lithium chloride from China carries 0% to 4% UK duty: the suspension applies to purity above 99% by weight and excludes mixtures and preparations. GB importers must establish their UK REACH position and meet chemical classification, labelling and packaging duties before sale. Cambridge China Bridge sources lithium chloride.
Base duty and the lithium chloride suspension
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 2827 covers chlorides, chloride oxides and chloride hydroxides, bromides and bromide oxides, and iodides and iodide oxides. The supplied facts place lithium chloride under 2827 39 85 90, with 4% base duty for goods from China and no listed anti-dumping or countervailing measure. A 0% suspension applies to lithium chloride with purity by weight above 99%; mixtures, preparations and products containing different components are excluded.
The tariff attaches waste import and export controls. Waste shipment controls apply only where the material is waste. For lithium chloride waste from China entering England under notification controls, the exporter must apply through the dispatch country's competent authority and obtain the necessary consents before shipment. Confirm the waste classification, route and applicable requirements with your customs broker before ordering recovered material.
Confirm the commodity code using the composition, physical form and batch analysis rather than a supplier's generic chloride code. Only the lithium chloride tariff line is shown here; unrelated salts have been omitted. For another product within the wider heading, see lithium bromide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lithium chloride | 2827 39 85 90 | 4% | None |
Specify lithium chloride by assay and water content
State whether you need anhydrous solid, hydrated material or a solution. Agree lithium chloride assay, whether results are reported on a dry or as-received basis, water content, insolubles and application-specific limits for sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium and iron. Require a batch certificate of analysis naming the methods, and agree independent testing of a representative sample.
Agree sealed moisture-barrier packaging, resealing arrangements and batch identification. For duty suspension, request evidence of purity by weight above 99%, rather than relying on a grade name.
For Great Britain, establish UK REACH registration coverage before importing: registration generally applies when annual imports of a substance reach one tonne, unless exempt. An importer placing chemicals on the GB market must meet the applicable classification, labelling and packaging duties. Request an English safety data sheet where the hazard and supply rules require one.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: one tonne of technical lithium chloride not qualifying for suspension under 2827 39 85 90, invoiced at £9,000 free on board, with £2,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £11,000. Duty at 4% is £440. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £11,440, so it is £2,288. Import taxes total £2,728; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £440 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Identity: match the lithium chloride description, physical form and batch number across the order, containers and analysis certificate.
Analysis: check assay basis, water content and agreed impurities; compare independent results with the batch certificate.
Packaging: check seals, liners, closures, net weight, caking and any leakage before accepting the delivery.
Supply documents: check the safety data sheet and applicable hazard labels against the supplied composition. Record findings through quality inspection.
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What goes wrong
An anhydrous specification can be undermined by water ingress, damaged seals or an assay reported only on a dry basis. Caking, wet material and discrepancies between the delivered batch and the certificate deserve investigation before process trials.
A grade described as 99% does not demonstrate purity above 99% for the suspension. A certificate for a different batch, an undisclosed additive or a formulated product can also undermine the claim. Agree the assay basis and supporting documents before shipment, and separate commercial acceptance from the customs decision.
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 lithium chloride from China?
The supplied tariff facts show 4% base duty and a 0% suspension for lithium chloride above 99% purity by weight, excluding mixtures and preparations. No anti-dumping or countervailing measure is listed.
Does 99% lithium chloride qualify for duty suspension?
The condition is purity by weight above 99%, not merely 99%. Ask for batch analysis and have your customs broker confirm eligibility.
Do I need UK REACH registration for lithium chloride?
For GB imports, registration generally applies at one tonne or more of the substance annually, unless exempt. Establish your registration coverage before importing.
What should I check when lithium chloride arrives?
Check batch identity, assay basis, water content, agreed impurities, seals, net weight and caking. Investigate any mismatch between the delivered material and its certificate before use.