Sourcing mesoporous carbon powder from China
Mesoporous carbon powder classified under heading 2803 pays 0% UK duty from China, with no trade remedy recorded. Importers are responsible for chemical classification and correct labelling and packaging before supply in Great Britain. Confirm the material's identity and pore specification. Cambridge China Bridge sources mesoporous carbon powder.
Duty and classification for mesoporous carbon
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 4 October 2026, heading 2803 covers carbon blacks and other forms of carbon not elsewhere specified or included. Its sole commodity line, 2803 00 00 00, carries 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. The table therefore contains the sole available line.
The UK Trade Tariff attaches waste import and export controls. For material imported from China into England as waste under notification controls, the exporter must apply to the competent authority in the country of dispatch for consent. Ask your customs broker to confirm the requirements for the material, intended treatment and route before shipment, including any subsequent waste export.
Do not classify by the word 'mesoporous' alone. Activated carbon belongs to heading 3802 according to our published carbon guide. Give your broker the composition, manufacturing process and intended use to confirm the commodity code. For related carbon materials within the wider heading, see carbon aerogel powder.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mesoporous carbon powder, subject to confirmation of classification | 2803 00 00 00 | 0% | None |
Specify the pores and the powder separately
Specify pore-size distribution, pore volume and specific surface area separately from powder particle size. Agree the gas-adsorption method, sample drying and degassing conditions, and calculation method. Ask for the adsorption curves as well as the supplier's summary figures. Also agree carbon content, ash, moisture, residual template material, metallic impurities and any surface treatment or doping.
Request a batch certificate and safety data sheet matching the actual grade. Chemical classification is the importer's responsibility; labels and packaging must be correct before the material is placed on the Great Britain market. Before importing a substance you have not previously imported, consider whether UK REACH registration is required. Arrange testing and certification support where you need independent checks.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative pilot-production batch of mesoporous carbon powder in sealed packs under 2803 00 00 00, invoiced at £22,000 free on board, with £2,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £24,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £24,000, so it is £4,800. 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
Pore structure: compare independently sampled material with the agreed adsorption curves, pore distribution, pore volume and surface area using the same preparation and calculation method.
Composition: check batch results for ash, moisture, residual template material and agreed impurities; confirm whether the powder is untreated, doped or surface-modified.
Powder behaviour: inspect particle-size distribution, agglomerates and foreign particles; trial dispersion or electrode preparation in your own process against the approved sample.
Packing and identity: check seals, liners, leakage, net contents and batch identification against the purchase order and certificate; retain a labelled sample from the delivery.
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What goes wrong
A supplier may offer a high surface-area result without demonstrating the pore distribution you ordered. Different degassing conditions or calculation methods can make certificates difficult to compare. Residual template material, ash or metallic contamination can also undermine your application even when the surface-area result meets the contract.
Moisture uptake, leaking packs and agglomeration can change handling and dispersion. Approve a sample in your process, fix the test methods in the purchase order and compare the shipment with that sample before releasing it for production. Investigate a mismatched batch certificate before accepting the material.
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 mesoporous carbon powder from China?
The supplied tariff record shows 0% under 2803 00 00 00, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty or suspension. Confirm that the actual powder belongs in this code.
Is mesoporous carbon powder classified as activated carbon?
Do not decide from the sales name. Our published guide places activated carbon in heading 3802. Ask your broker to assess the composition and manufacturing process.
What should a mesoporous carbon test report include?
Ask for pore distribution, pore volume, specific surface area and adsorption curves, with drying, degassing and calculation methods. Check particle size and impurities separately.
Does a trial order avoid chemical classification duties?
Importers remain responsible for chemical classification. Check the actual grade and ensure correct labels and packaging before placing it on the Great Britain market.