Sourcing nitric acid from China
Nitric acid and sulphonitric acids from China pay 4% UK duty under the single code 2808 00 00 00, with no anti-dumping duty. Heading 2808 is in the fertiliser sector of UK CBAM from 1 January 2027, nitric acid above 3% by weight is a regulated explosives precursor under the Poisons Act 1972, and it is corrosive and oxidising under GB CLP.
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4% duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 28 September 2026, heading 2808 covers nitric acid and sulphonitric acids. It is a single code carrying 4% on goods from China, with no suspension and no anti-dumping measure. The tariff also attaches a waste import control, answered by a not-waste declaration.
Heading 2808 is listed in the fertiliser sector of the UK carbon border adjustment mechanism, which applies from 1 January 2027. See the UK CBAM guide for the registration threshold and records.
Nitric acid above 3% by weight is a regulated explosives precursor under Part 1 of Schedule 1A to the Poisons Act 1972: a member of the general public needs a licence to import, acquire, possess or use it, and suppliers must report suspicious transactions. Check whether each customer is a business or a member of the public before supplying.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitric acid; sulphonitric acids | 2808 00 00 00 | 4% | None |
Hazards and specification
Nitric acid is corrosive and oxidising, and concentrated grades give off toxic fumes, so it needs GB CLP labels, a GB-format safety data sheet, approved packaging and dangerous goods transport, stored away from combustible material.
Specify concentration, grade (technical, electronic or reagent), chloride and heavy metal limits, colour, and packing in containers rated for the acid. Ask for a certificate of analysis per lot.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 10 IBCs of 68% nitric acid under 2808 00 00 00, invoiced at £5,000 free on board, with £3,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £8,500. Duty at 4% is £340. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £8,840, so it is £1,768. Import taxes total £2,108; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £340 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Analysis: check concentration and impurities against the certificate.
Packing: check UN-marked containers, closures and leaks.
Labels: check GB CLP labels and the safety data sheet. See our quality inspection guide.
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What goes wrong
Nitric acid orders fail on packing, CBAM records and customer checks. Containers are not rated for the acid, embedded emissions data is not requested from the producer, and product above 3% is sold to the public without checking for a licence.
Cambridge China Bridge sources materials for UK manufacturers with documents agreed before shipment. See factory verification.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on nitric acid from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 28 September 2026, nitric acid under 2808 00 00 00 carried 4% from China.
Is nitric acid covered by UK CBAM?
Yes. Heading 2808 is in the fertiliser sector from 1 January 2027.
Is nitric acid a regulated explosives precursor?
Yes, above 3% by weight. A member of the public needs a licence to import, acquire, possess or use it.
What are sulphonitric acids?
Mixtures of nitric and sulphuric acid used for nitration; they share the code.