Sourcing non-aqueous silver paste from China
Non-aqueous silver pigment paste from China carries 0% UK duty when classified under 3212 90 00 00, with no trade remedy shown in the supplied tariff snapshot. Check UK REACH responsibilities and the mixture's hazard classification before importing into Great Britain. Cambridge China Bridge sources non-aqueous silver pigment paste.
Duty and controls on silver pigment paste
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, heading 3212 covers pigments, including metallic powders and flakes, dispersed in non-aqueous media as liquids or pastes for manufacturing paints. Relevant silver pigment paste falls within 3212 90 00 00, carrying 0% duty from China. The supplied snapshot lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. It contains only a single relevant commodity line, reproduced in the table.
The tariff attaches a restriction on entry into free circulation concerning ozone-depleting substances, plus waste import and export controls. Ask your customs broker to confirm the declaration needed for the actual formulation. Importing ozone-depleting substances into Great Britain requires a licence. For paste shipped as waste into England under notification controls, the Chinese exporter must apply to its competent authority for consent; confirm the complete requirements with your broker.
Confirm the commodity code using the composition, non-aqueous carrier and intended use. Describe whether this is a pigment preparation for paint manufacture or a finished functional formulation. For wider heading coverage, see the non-aqueous copper pigment pastes guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-aqueous silver pigment paste for manufacturing paints | 3212 90 00 00 | 0% | None |
Specify silver content and the carrier
State whether you require elemental silver pigment or merely a silver-coloured finish. Specify silver content, total solids, particle shape and size distribution, carrier solvent, surface treatment and any binder. Agree viscosity with its measurement conditions, mixing instructions and storage conditions. Approve a sample in your actual coating formulation and on the intended substrate.
Check the UK REACH registration position for each constituent substance, including the carrier. Confirm with HSE the registration requirements applicable to your annual imports of each substance. Chemical importers are responsible for hazard classification; confirm with HSE the labels and safety data sheets required for hazardous grades. Request composition information and a safety data sheet matching the exact supplied grade before ordering.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 10 kg of non-aqueous silver 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
Identity and composition: compare batch documentation with the approved formulation and independently check silver content where it determines acceptance.
Dispersion and viscosity: check settling, ease of redispersion, lumps and viscosity using the agreed mixing procedure and measurement conditions.
Coating performance: make a drawdown in the buyer's binder system; compare appearance, drying, adhesion and metallic effect against the approved sample.
Packing and documents: check seals, leakage, net mass and batch identification; match the supplied grade to its safety data sheet. Agree the scope of quality inspection before dispatch.
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What goes wrong
A silver-coloured paste can be mistaken for a paste containing elemental silver. Substitution, reduced silver content or an altered carrier can change the result even when the wet appearance looks similar. Write the agreed composition and acceptance tests into the purchase specification.
Dense particles can settle into a hard sediment, while solvent loss changes viscosity. A paste that disperses in the supplier's binder may flocculate in yours, leaving specks or an uneven metallic effect. Check redispersion and coating performance on arrival before releasing the batch.
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 non-aqueous silver pigment paste from China?
The supplied tariff snapshot shows 0% for 3212 90 00 00, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty. Confirm that the composition and intended use fit this code.
Does imported silver pigment paste need UK REACH registration?
Check each constituent substance. Confirm with HSE the registration requirements applicable to your annual imports of each substance; the paste's total order weight alone does not settle the question.
Is silver pigment paste the same as silver-coloured paste?
The description alone does not establish composition. Specify elemental silver content and particle form, and check the supplied batch against that specification.
How do I check silver pigment paste on arrival?
Check composition, seals, batch identity, settling, redispersion and viscosity. Make a coating drawdown in your actual binder and compare it with the approved sample.