Sourcing natural rock asphalt from China
Natural rock asphalt from China carries 0% UK duty under 2714 90 00 00, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty. Check whether the material is waste and assess UK REACH registration before ordering. Specify bitumen content, mineral composition, moisture and particle size. Cambridge China Bridge sources natural rock asphalt.
Duty on natural rock asphalt
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, heading 2714 covers natural bitumen and asphalt, bituminous or oil-shale and tar sands, asphaltites and asphaltic rocks. This guide concerns natural rock asphalt. The table presents physical forms against the same supplied commodity line, 2714 90 00 00. See natural bitumen for the wider heading.
The supplied line carries 0% duty for goods from China, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. The tariff attaches import and export waste controls. Establish the material's waste status before shipment. For waste shipped from China into England under notification controls, the competent authorities of dispatch, destination and transit must consent before shipment. Ask your customs broker and the Environment Agency to confirm the applicable requirements.
Confirm the commodity code using the composition, processing history and intended use. Tell the broker whether the shipment is mined rock, crushed material or a formulated product containing added binder or other ingredients. Do not accept a supplier's description of every asphalt product as natural rock asphalt.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural rock asphalt, in lumps | 2714 90 00 00 | 0% | None |
Specify the rock, bitumen content and grading
Identify the mine and processing site, mineral composition and intended use in your asphalt blend. Specify extractable bitumen content and the laboratory method used to measure it. Agree whether results are reported on a dry basis or as received, alongside moisture, mineral residue and particle-size distribution.
State whether you need lumps, crushed material, granules or powder. Agree limits for oversize particles, fines, moisture and foreign matter without relying on colour or a generic grade name. Trial the material with your own binder and aggregate, and retain an approved sample. Require written agreement before the supplier changes the mine source or adds ingredients.
Before importing a substance for the first time, assess whether it requires UK REACH registration with HSE. Provide composition and processing information for that assessment. A safety data sheet is required if the chemical is hazardous and supplied for use at work. Ask for handling information addressing dust, storage and your intended mixing process.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 4 tonnes of natural rock asphalt powder in sealed bags under 2714 90 00 00, invoiced at £4,000 free on board, with £1,800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £5,800. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £5,800, so it is £1,160. 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: match the mine source, processing description, bag markings and batch certificate to the approved material.
Composition: independently check extractable bitumen, moisture and mineral residue using the agreed methods and reporting basis.
Grading: sample across the shipment and check particle size, oversize pieces, fines and lumps caused by moisture.
Packing: check bag seals, tears, water ingress, contamination and net weights on arrival. Retain batch samples and use quality inspection to agree the sampling scope.
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What goes wrong
A similar-looking rock can contain a different balance of bitumen and mineral material. Changing the mine source can change the behaviour of your asphalt blend. Excess moisture, uneven grading and compacted powder can also make feeding and mixing inconsistent. Compare the shipment with the approved sample and batch acceptance criteria.
Certificates become difficult to compare when the supplier changes the extraction method or switches between dry-basis and as-received results. Resolve those differences before approving shipment. Keep mined-product orders distinct from offers involving recovered road material, and settle any uncertainty about waste status with the broker and relevant authority.
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 natural rock asphalt from China?
The supplied tariff extract gives 0% duty under 2714 90 00 00, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension.
Is natural rock asphalt the same as a ready-made asphalt mixture?
Specify whether you are buying mined rock or a formulated mixture. Give the broker the composition and processing details rather than relying on the word asphalt.
What should I test before buying natural rock asphalt?
Check extractable bitumen, mineral composition, moisture and particle-size distribution. Trial the sample with your own binder and aggregate before agreeing batch acceptance criteria.
Does the tariff's waste control apply to my shipment?
Confirm waste status with your broker and the relevant authority. For waste imports into England under notification controls, dispatch, destination and transit authorities must consent before shipment.