Sourcing natural graphite from China
Natural graphite from China, including flake graphite and amorphous graphite in powder, flakes or lumps, pays 0% UK duty on both lines of heading 2504, with no anti-dumping duty. Buyers for refractories, lubricants, foundry use, pencils and battery anode material buy on fixed carbon content, flake size, moisture and impurities.
Natural flake and amorphous graphite in powder, flakes or lumps from China pays 0% UK duty. Carbon content, flake size and impurity checks explained.
0% duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 27 September 2026, heading 2504 covers natural graphite. Both lines, in powder or in flakes (2504 10 00 00) and other (2504 90 00 00), carried 0% on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure and no suspension.
Artificial graphite and expandable graphite are heading 3801 (see our artificial and expandable graphite guide), and graphite electrodes 8545 (see our graphite electrodes guide); confirm the commodity code.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural graphite in powder or flakes | 2504 10 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Other natural graphite (such as lumps) | 2504 90 00 00 | 0% | None |
Chemical rules
Graphite is a substance under UK REACH, so importers of one tonne or more a year need a registration position, and the safety data sheet follows the retained CLP Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008. Fine powders need dust control in handling.
Specifying graphite
Specify type (flake or amorphous), fixed carbon content, mesh or particle size distribution, moisture, ash and volatile matter, sulphur and iron limits, for battery grades spheroidised size and purity, and packing in lined bags.
Worked duty example
Take a hypothetical order of 20 tonnes of 94% carbon natural flake graphite, entered under 2504 10 00 00: £21,000 free on board plus £2,000 of freight and insurance gives a customs value of £23,000. Flake graphite carry no duty, so import VAT of 20% on £23,000, £4,600, is the only tax. A VAT-registered importer normally reclaims it, so the border adds no lasting cost. Step by step: UK import duty and VAT.
Inspection checklist
Analysis: check fixed carbon, ash, moisture and particle size on the certificate, and verify a sample in an independent laboratory.
Contamination: check for foreign matter and mixing of grades between bags.
Packing: check bag integrity, weight and lot marking.
What goes wrong
Graphite orders fail on carbon content, size and contamination. Fixed carbon is below the grade, flake size is smaller than specified, moisture is high, and different lots are mixed.
Test samples before shipping. See our quality inspection guide.
Cambridge China Bridge sources natural graphite for UK refractory, lubricant and foundry buyers, checking the processor's grading and lab first. See factory verification.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on natural graphite from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 27 September 2026, natural graphite under 2504 carried 0% from China on both lines.
Is synthetic graphite in heading 2504?
No. Artificial graphite is heading 3801.
What decides graphite grade?
Fixed carbon content, flake or particle size, ash and moisture.
Does graphite need REACH registration?
Importers of one tonne or more a year need a UK REACH position.