Sourcing Mannitol Powder from China
Mannitol powder from China carries UK duty of 8% plus £105 per 100 kg, rather than a percentage-only duty range. For food-additive material, check the GB Register of Food Additive Authorisations and confirm the applicable purity requirements with the Food Standards Agency. Specify the intended use and test each batch against the agreed grade. Cambridge China Bridge sources mannitol powder.
Mannitol has a compound duty
Heading 2905 covers acyclic alcohols and their halogenated, sulphonated, nitrated or nitrosated derivatives. Mannitol powder falls within its mannitol line, 2905 43 00 00. This guide uses that single relevant line; the supplied facts contain no separate mannitol powder lines for different grades.
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, mannitol from China carries 8% plus £105 per 100 kg. The supplied line lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. It attaches an export control for waste; the importer should confirm any relevant waste requirement with their customs broker.
Confirm the composition and commodity code before costing. The specific weight-based charge means a percentage-only worked example would understate duty. See the wider glycols and polyols guide for other products within this heading.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mannitol powder | 2905 43 00 00 | 8% + £105.00 per 100 kg | None |
Specify grade, particle size and batch testing
State whether the powder is for food, pharmaceutical or laboratory use. Specify assay, moisture, particle-size distribution, appearance, packing material and the test methods used for acceptance. Ask for a batch certificate of analysis showing measured results rather than a generic product specification.
For food-additive use, confirm the applicable mannitol purity requirements with the Food Standards Agency. Check the GB Register of Food Additive Authorisations for the conditions of use for the intended food application. Pharmaceutical grades are bought against the British or European Pharmacopoeia monograph; name the agreed monograph in the purchase specification.
Inspection checklist
Identity: check that the bag label, purchase order and batch certificate all identify mannitol and the agreed grade.
Analysis: compare batch assay, moisture and agreed impurity results with the purchase specification; retain a representative sample for verification.
Powder: check particle size, visible foreign material, colour and lumps against the approved sample and acceptance method.
Packaging: check liners, seals, bag condition and batch references; isolate wet, torn or unidentified bags.
What goes wrong
A supplier's generic purity claim can conceal a mismatch between the ordered grade and the delivered batch. A certificate without batch-specific results gives the buyer little basis for acceptance. Unsuitable particle size or caking can also disrupt weighing, blending or dissolution in the buyer's process.
Costing only the percentage duty misses the weight-based charge. Agree the grade and acceptance tests before ordering, then review the batch evidence and packaging before shipment. Use testing and certification support when independent verification is needed.
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 mannitol powder from China?
The supplied tariff facts show 8% plus £105 per 100 kg under 2905 43 00 00, with no suspension or anti-dumping or countervailing duty listed.
Can I use technical-grade mannitol in food?
A technical-grade description does not establish food suitability. For mannitol sold as a food additive, check the GB Register of Food Additive Authorisations and confirm the applicable purity requirements with the Food Standards Agency.
What should a mannitol batch certificate show?
Ask for the batch reference, agreed grade, test methods and measured results for assay, moisture and agreed impurities. Match it to the labels on the delivered bags.
Which powder checks matter before accepting delivery?
Check identity, batch references, particle size, lumps, foreign material and packaging seals against the agreed specification. Isolate wet or damaged bags and retain a sample.