Lithium hydroxide and metal oxides from China
Lithium hydroxide, metal oxides and other inorganic bases from China pay 0% to 4% UK duty. Lithium hydroxide monohydrate over 99% pure is suspended to 0% to 2028 (2% below that), as are zirconium dioxide, vanadium, tungsten and molybdenum oxides and some copper oxides; antimony and tin oxides pay 4%, nickel oxides 0%. No anti-dumping applies. UK REACH and CLP apply.
Lithium hydroxide, zirconia, copper, nickel, antimony, tungsten and molybdenum oxides from China: 0% to 4% UK duty, 0% suspensions, REACH and CLP.
Duty and suspensions line by line
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 27 September 2026, heading 2825 covers hydrazine and hydroxylamine and their inorganic salts, other inorganic bases, and other metal oxides, hydroxides and peroxides. Of its 22 lines, nickel oxides and hydroxides, cadmium oxide and calcium hydroxide of 98% or more purity carried 0% on goods from China, copper oxides 2%, and every other line 4%. No line carried an anti-dumping measure.
Suspensions to 31 December 2028 take many lines to 0%: hydroxylammonium chloride, vanadium oxides and hydroxides, two listed copper oxide specifications, zirconium dioxide, molybdic acid, molybdenum trioxide, tungsten trioxide and beryllium oxide of 99.5% or more. Lithium hydroxide monohydrate (CAS 1310-66-3) is 0% when more than 99% pure and 2% under a partial suspension otherwise. Suspensions are claimed on the declaration and do not cover mixtures or preparations; antimony oxides, tin oxides, other lithium hydroxide and other zirconium, copper and tungsten oxides pay the full rate.
Fused and calcined aluminium oxide is in heading 2818 (see our fused alumina guide), and molybdenum and tungsten metal in chapter 81 (see our molybdenum and tungsten guides). Confirm the commodity code.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lithium hydroxide monohydrate | 2825 20 00 10 | 4% (0% if over 99% pure, otherwise 2%, suspension to 31 Dec 2028) | None |
| Other lithium oxide and hydroxide | 2825 20 00 90 | 4% | None |
| Nickel oxides and hydroxides | 2825 40 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Zirconium dioxide | 2825 60 00 10 | 4% (0% suspension to 31 Dec 2028) | None |
| Molybdenum trioxide and other molybdenum oxides | 2825 70 00 90 | 4% (0% for molybdenum trioxide to 31 Dec 2028) | None |
| Antimony oxides | 2825 80 00 00 | 4% | None |
| Tungsten trioxide, including blue tungsten oxide | 2825 90 40 30 | 4% (0% suspension to 31 Dec 2028) | None |
| Tin oxides and hydroxides | 2825 90 85 10 | 4% | None |
UK REACH, CLP and transport
Under UK REACH, retained Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006, a Great Britain importer of one tonne or more a year of a substance must register it or rely on an only representative, and each shipment needs a safety data sheet. Retained Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (GB CLP) sets classification and labelling: lithium hydroxide is corrosive, and nickel oxides, cadmium oxide and beryllium oxide are classified as carcinogenic, which limits who can buy them and how they are handled.
Corrosive and toxic grades are dangerous goods, so check the UN number, packing group and packaging approval on the safety data sheet before booking freight.
Specifying battery and ceramic grades
Specify the CAS number, purity, impurity limits (for lithium hydroxide: carbonate, sodium, potassium, calcium, iron, sulphate and chloride), particle size distribution, specific surface area, moisture, magnetic particle content for battery grades, packing (lined bags or drums, sealed against carbon dioxide and moisture), and the certificate of analysis per lot.
Worked duty example
Suppose, purely for illustration, you import 20 tonnes of battery-grade lithium hydroxide monohydrate under 2825 20 00 10. At £200,000 free on board and £6,000 to ship and insure, the customs value is £206,000. With 0% duty on lithium hydroxide monohydrate over 99% pure, the only charge is import VAT: 20% of £206,000, or £41,200. VAT-registered businesses usually recover that in their next return. That assumes purity above 99% and the suspension claimed on the declaration; below that purity the partial suspension gives 2%. The method is set out in how UK import duty and VAT work.
Inspection checklist
Documents: check the certificate of analysis against the purity that decides the suspension, the safety data sheet in English, and the UK REACH registration route.
Laboratory: test an independent sample for assay, key impurities, moisture and particle size; lithium hydroxide absorbs carbon dioxide, so check carbonate on arrival as well as at loading.
Packing: check liners are sealed, bags are labelled with GB CLP hazard pictograms and the lot number, and pallets are wrapped against moisture.
What goes wrong
Oxide orders fail on purity, contamination and paperwork. Lithium hydroxide picks up carbonate from air through poorly sealed bags, metallic particles exceed battery limits, purity falls short of the level that earns the 0% suspension, and shipments arrive without a registration route or GB-format labels.
Agree impurity limits and packing in writing, test independently, and settle UK REACH first. See our quality inspection guide.
Cambridge China Bridge sources lithium hydroxide and metal oxides for UK battery, ceramics and catalyst makers, checking the producer's laboratory and quality records first. See factory verification.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on lithium hydroxide from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 27 September 2026, lithium hydroxide monohydrate (2825 20 00 10) is 4%, suspended to 0% over 99% purity and 2% otherwise, to 31 December 2028.
Is zirconia duty-free?
Zirconium dioxide (2825 60 00 10) has a 0% suspension to 31 December 2028 against a 4% full rate.
Do I need UK REACH registration?
Yes, a GB importer of one tonne or more a year must register the substance or use an only representative.
Which oxides are classed as carcinogenic?
Under GB CLP, nickel oxides, cadmium oxide and beryllium oxide are classified as carcinogenic.