Sourcing magnesium hydroxide from China
Magnesium hydroxide and peroxide from China, used as a halogen-free flame retardant in cables and plastics, for wastewater treatment and in food and pharmaceutical grades, and oxides, hydroxides and peroxides of strontium or barium, pay 0% UK duty on all three lines of heading 2816, with no anti-dumping duty. Buyers check purity, particle size, surface treatment and whiteness.
Magnesium hydroxide and barium and strontium hydroxides from China pay 0% UK duty. Flame retardant grades, REACH and purity checks explained.
0% duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 27 September 2026, heading 2816 covers hydroxide and peroxide of magnesium and oxides, hydroxides and peroxides of strontium or barium. All three leaves carried 0% on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure, no registration and no suspension.
Magnesium oxide (magnesia) is covered in our magnesia and magnesite guide; confirm the commodity code.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hydroxide and peroxide of magnesium | 2816 10 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Barium hydroxide (CAS 17194-00-2) | 2816 40 00 10 | 0% | None |
| Other oxides, hydroxides and peroxides of strontium or barium | 2816 40 00 90 | 0% | None |
Chemical rules
These are substances under UK REACH, so importers of one tonne or more a year need a registration position, and the safety data sheet and label follow the retained CLP Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008. Check the classification for barium and strontium compounds and for magnesium peroxide, an oxidiser, before selling them on.
Specifying magnesium hydroxide
Specify use and grade (flame retardant, environmental, food or pharmaceutical), Mg(OH)2 content, calcium, iron and chloride limits, median particle size and top cut, specific surface area, surface treatment for polymer compounding, whiteness, moisture, and packing in lined bags.
Worked duty example
An invented example rather than a quote: 20 tonnes of surface-treated magnesium hydroxide powder, commodity code 2816 10 00 00, bought for £11,000 free on board, with £1,500 of freight and insurance, so £12,500 is the value customs works from. No duty is due on magnesium hydroxide; import VAT at 20% of £12,500 is £2,500. If you are VAT-registered, that VAT is normally reclaimable. See calculating UK import duty and VAT for the method.
Inspection checklist
Analysis: check purity, impurities and particle size on the certificate, and verify a sample in an independent laboratory.
Performance: for flame retardant grades, compound a sample and check dispersion and flame test results.
Packing: check bag integrity, moisture, weight and lot marking.
What goes wrong
Magnesium hydroxide orders fail on particle size and treatment. Coarse or agglomerated powder disperses poorly, the surface treatment differs from the sample, iron content discolours compounds, and brucite-based grades are supplied against a precipitated grade order.
Test samples before shipping. See our quality inspection guide.
Cambridge China Bridge sources magnesium hydroxide for UK cable, plastics and water treatment buyers, checking the producer's lab first. See factory verification.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on magnesium hydroxide from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 27 September 2026, magnesium hydroxide under 2816 10 00 00 carried 0% from China.
Is magnesium oxide in heading 2816?
No. Magnesium oxide is covered with magnesia in heading 2519.
Does magnesium hydroxide need REACH registration?
Importers of one tonne or more a year need a UK REACH position.
What fails most often?
Coarse or agglomerated powder and surface treatment that differs from the sample.