Sourcing Magnesium Turnings from China

Zero duty, but check product and waste status

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 8104 covers magnesium and its articles, including waste and scrap. Size-graded turnings fall within 8104 30 00 90, carrying 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied snapshot lists no anti-dumping or countervailing measure, suspension or attached import control for that line. Import VAT is normally 20%.

Magnesium waste and scrap under 8104 20 00 00 also carry 0% duty, but the tariff attaches import and export waste controls. For an import into England subject to notification controls, dispatch, destination and transit authorities must consent before shipment. Ask your customs broker to confirm the applicable controls for the actual China shipment before booking.

The table includes related powder lines to help distinguish separately supplied fines from turnings. Confirm the commodity code using the material's form, grading and waste status. The powder suspension shown in the supplied snapshot does not apply to the turnings line. See the wider magnesium powder guide.

Specify chemistry, curl size and cleanliness

State whether you need unalloyed magnesium or alloy turnings, and agree magnesium content and limits for iron, nickel, copper and other relevant elements. Specify curl length, thickness, size distribution and acceptable fines. Agree how the supplier will measure grading, and retain an approved sample. Ask whether the material is deliberately produced or collected from machining.

Set acceptance criteria for cutting oil, moisture, oxidation and foreign metal. Require a batch analysis linked to the packed lot, rather than a general product certificate. Plan independent chemistry testing through testing and certification.

Confirm with a dangerous goods carrier whether the turnings must travel as dangerous goods and what packing and declarations are needed, using the site's published magnesium guide as background. Check the UK REACH registration position for each substance and legal entity. Before selling in Great Britain, ensure correct chemical labelling and packaging. Hazardous chemicals supplied for workplace use require a safety data sheet.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 2 tonnes of size-graded magnesium turnings; values are illustrative under 8104 30 00 90, invoiced at £10,500 free on board, with £2,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £13,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £13,000, so it is £2,600. 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

Chemistry: match the batch analysis to package identifiers and test a representative sample against the agreed composition.

Grading: compare curl dimensions and fines with the approved sample and agreed measurement method; look for mixed shapes or excessive dust.

Cleanliness: inspect for cutting oil, dampness, corrosion and foreign metal using the agreed sampling procedure.

Packing and documents: check closures, package damage, batch identification, safety data sheet and dangerous goods paperwork before dispatch and again on arrival.

What goes wrong

Mixed machining collections can contain alloy turnings, foreign metal and cutting oil when the buyer expected clean unalloyed material. Excess fines or tangled curls can change how the material feeds into a process. Agree measurable acceptance criteria and arrange quality inspection before releasing the shipment.

A supplier's description of clean magnesium does not resolve waste classification or transport arrangements. Settle product status with your broker and packing with the dangerous goods carrier before booking. On arrival, hold damaged or suspect packages for assessment against the safety data sheet rather than tipping them into production.

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.