Sourcing iron oxide pastes from China
Non-aqueous iron oxide pigment pastes for paint manufacture carry 0% UK duty from China, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty. GB buyers should confirm the UK REACH position and any hazard label and safety data sheet requirements with HSE. Cambridge China Bridge sources non-aqueous iron oxide pigment pastes.
Zero duty on non-aqueous iron oxide pastes
Heading 3212 covers pigments dispersed in non-aqueous media, in liquid or paste form, for manufacturing paints, including enamels, alongside stamping foils and retail colouring matter. This guide concerns iron oxide pigment pastes for paint manufacture under 3212 90 00 00. The colour variants share that code; they are not separate tariff lines.
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, the relevant line carried 0% duty for goods from China, with no listed anti-dumping duty, countervailing duty or suspension. The tariff attaches an ozone-depleting substance restriction and waste import and export controls. Ask your customs broker to confirm the declaration requirements against the formulation and whether the consignment is waste.
Confirm the commodity code using the composition, carrier, physical form and intended use. Do not classify solely from the words 'iron oxide' on an invoice. For another pigment dispersion within the wider heading, see non-aqueous titanium dioxide pigment pastes.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red iron oxide pigment paste in non-aqueous media for paint manufacture | 3212 90 00 00 | 0% | None |
Specify the carrier, shade and dispersion
Specify the iron oxide colour, pigment content, carrier solvent or resin, dispersant, viscosity test conditions and agreed fineness of dispersion. State whether you need transparent or opaque colour. Supply the actual paint binder and an approved reference sample, then compare drawdowns and tinting strength in that formulation.
GB importers should confirm with HSE the UK REACH registration position for substances imported at one tonne or more per year, including substances in mixtures. Confirm with HSE when hazard labels and English safety data sheets are required. Assess the complete paste, including its carrier and additives, rather than relying on paperwork for iron oxide powder.
Ask for the full formulation and confirmation about ozone-depleting substances. Importing ozone-depleting substances into Great Britain requires a licence. If a China consignment is waste subject to notification controls, consent from the dispatch, destination and transit authorities is needed before shipment. Confirm the applicable route with your broker and regulator before buying discarded or recovered paste.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 400 kg of non-aqueous iron oxide pigment paste under 3212 90 00 00, invoiced at £6,800 free on board, with £700 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £7,500. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £7,500, so it is £1,500. 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
Shade and strength: compare mixed batch samples with the retained reference in the buyer's binder, using the same addition and application method.
Dispersion and flow: check fineness, viscosity under agreed conditions, grit and ease of mixing; look for separation and sediment that cannot be redispersed.
Compatibility: make a trial paint and check for flocculation, colour change, gloss loss and delayed thickening after mixing.
Packing and records: check sealed containers, leakage, net contents and batch identity against the analysis certificate; match the safety data sheet and hazard label to the supplied formulation.
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What goes wrong
A paste can match the approved shade in its own carrier but flocculate in the buyer's resin. Changed dispersant or solvent can alter viscosity, gloss and colour development. Weak tinting strength changes the paint recipe, while coarse particles leave specks and hard sediment makes the delivered contents difficult to use.
Approve a formulation trial before ordering and agree batch acceptance tests. Retain samples from the approved paste and delivered lots. Require the supplier to flag changes to pigment, carrier and additives before production; compare arrival samples after the agreed mixing procedure.
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 iron oxide pigment pastes from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, non-aqueous pigment pastes for paint manufacture under 3212 90 00 00 carried 0% duty, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty.
Does UK REACH apply to imported pigment paste?
Confirm with HSE whether registration applies to each substance imported at one tonne or more per year, including substances within the paste. Confirm whether English safety data sheets are required and obtain them where applicable.
Can I use the same paste in any solvent-based paint?
Check compatibility in your actual binder. The carrier and dispersant can cause flocculation, viscosity changes or gloss loss even when the initial shade matches.
How do I check whether a batch has settled badly?
Inspect the container base and mix using the agreed procedure. Compare redispersibility, fineness, viscosity and colour with the retained sample; record hard sediment or persistent separation.