Sourcing molybdenum powder from China

Zero duty on molybdenum powder

Heading 8102 covers molybdenum and its articles, including waste and scrap. This guide covers metallic molybdenum powder. The supplied tariff contains only the powder lines shown here. For bars, sheet, wire and other forms, see molybdenum products.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, both powder lines carry 0% duty for goods from China. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty, or separate suspension, is listed. Both lines have import and export waste-control flags. Ask your customs broker to confirm whether the powder is waste and which requirements apply to the shipment from China. For notified waste shipments to England, consent from the dispatch, destination and transit authorities is needed before shipping.

The specific powder line depends on both purity and particle size. Give your broker the composition, particle-size report, manufacturing description and intended use, then confirm the commodity code. Do not classify from the supplier's product name alone.

Purity, particle distribution and supply documents

Specify metallic molybdenum powder, intended process, purity, oxygen and carbon limits, trace impurities, particle-size distribution and particle shape. Agree the sampling and measurement methods, whether agglomerates are dispersed before measurement, and how the powder should flow in your process. Require a batch-specific certificate of analysis and retain an approved sample.

For imports into Great Britain, establish your UK REACH position and confirm any applicable registration thresholds with HSE or your compliance adviser. Supply-chain businesses are responsible for correct labelling and packaging before placing substances on the market. Arrange a review of the powder's classification. A safety data sheet is required if the chemical is hazardous and supplied for use at work.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 500 kg of molybdenum powder; illustrative order and values under 8102 10 00 90, invoiced at £30,000 free on board, with £800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £30,800. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £30,800, so it is £6,160. 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

Identity and chemistry: match the container batch numbers to the certificate, and independently check molybdenum content, oxygen, carbon and agreed trace impurities against the purchase specification.

Particle distribution: test a representative sample using the agreed preparation and measurement method; check coarse particles, fines and agglomerates rather than accepting an average alone.

Packing and condition: check seals, liners, net weight, moisture, caking and contamination. Compare the delivered powder with the retained sample before releasing it for production.

Documents: match labels and supply documents to the actual grade and batch. Use quality inspection to agree sampling and acceptance checks before dispatch.

What goes wrong

A purity result does not establish particle distribution or process performance. Different sample preparation can make reports appear consistent while the delivered powder contains coarse particles or agglomerates. Moisture, contamination and damaged seals can also leave powder unsuitable for the buyer's process.

Ask for the underlying batch results and test methods, rather than a generic certificate. Keep suspect batches separate while investigating, and trial the delivered powder in the intended process before accepting it for routine 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.