Sourcing manganese metal from China
Manganese from China, including unwrought electrolytic manganese metal flake and powder, waste and scrap, and manganese articles, pays 0% UK duty on all 3 lines of heading 8111, with no anti-dumping duty. It is bought mainly for aluminium alloys and stainless and special steels, on manganese purity and impurity limits such as selenium, sulphur and carbon.
Electrolytic manganese flake, manganese powder, scrap and articles from China pay 0% UK duty. Purity, selenium and handling checks explained.
0% duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 27 September 2026, heading 8111 covers manganese and articles thereof, including waste and scrap: unwrought manganese and powders, waste and scrap, and other manganese articles. All 3 lines carried 0% on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure and no tariff suspension. The waste and scrap line is subject to waste import controls.
Ferromanganese and silicomanganese are ferro-alloys of heading 7202 (see our ferro-alloys guide), and manganese ore is 2602, so confirm the commodity code.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unwrought manganese; powders | 8111 00 11 00 | 0% | None |
| Waste and scrap | 8111 00 19 00 | 0% | None |
| Other manganese articles | 8111 00 90 00 | 0% | None |
Chemical rules
Manganese metal is a substance for UK REACH, so importers of one tonne or more a year need a registration position, and the safety data sheet and labelling follow the retained CLP Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008. Fine powders need dust control in handling.
Specifying manganese
Specify form (flake, briquette or powder), manganese content, limits for selenium, sulphur, carbon, iron and silicon, flake size or powder particle size, passivation, and packing in drums or bulk bags with moisture protection.
Worked duty example
An invented example rather than a quote: 25 tonnes of electrolytic manganese flake, commodity code 8111 00 11 00, bought for £52,000 free on board, with £2,600 of freight and insurance, so £54,600 is the value customs works from. No duty is due on manganese flake; import VAT at 20% of £54,600 is £10,920. If you are VAT-registered, that VAT is normally reclaimable. See calculating UK import duty and VAT for the method.
Inspection checklist
Chemistry: check the certificate of analysis against the specified manganese and impurity limits, and verify on a sample with an independent laboratory for large lots.
Form: check flake size and thickness distribution or powder particle size, and look for oxidation.
Packing: check drum or bag integrity, lot marking and net weight.
What goes wrong
Manganese orders fail on impurities and oxidation. Selenium or sulphur is above the alloy maker's limit, flakes oxidise in damp storage, powders arrive with the wrong particle size, and certificates are not traceable to the lot.
Test lots independently and check packing before shipping. See our quality inspection guide.
Cambridge China Bridge sources manganese metal for UK aluminium and steel alloy producers, checking the producer's analysis first. See factory verification.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on manganese metal from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 27 September 2026, unwrought manganese and powders under 8111 00 11 00 carried 0% from China, with no anti-dumping duty.
Is ferromanganese in heading 8111?
No. Ferromanganese is a ferro-alloy of heading 7202.
What impurities matter in manganese flake?
Selenium, sulphur, carbon, iron and silicon, depending on the alloy.
Does manganese need REACH registration?
Importers of one tonne or more a year need a UK REACH position.