Sourcing peat from China

Zero duty on peat

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 18 November 2026, heading 2703 covers peat, including peat litter, whether or not agglomerated. The supplied tariff extract contains only the commodity line 2703 00 00 00, so the table shows that line alone.

The supplied extract records 0% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, no suspension and no attached import control. Separately, official plant-health guidance prohibits artificial growing media containing organic matter but excludes material composed entirely of unused peat. Obtain the composition and usage history before booking freight.

Confirm the commodity code against the actual material, particularly where the supplier adds soil, fertiliser or other growing-media ingredients. The tariff entry alone does not settle the plant-health position of a mixture.

Specify peat composition and usable volume

Describe the intended use, peat source, degree of decomposition, fibre content and particle size. Agree moisture, acidity, electrical conductivity, ash content and acceptable foreign material. Ask the processor to declare every additive and whether the material has previously been used.

For compressed bales, agree how usable volume will be measured after loosening and wetting. Record bale weight, packaging and storage conditions. Compare a production sample with the approved sample using the same preparation method.

For horticultural resale, check the destination market before committing stock. The government's Environmental Improvement Plan commits to legislating for a ban on peat and peat-containing product sales when parliamentary time allows. Confirm the applicable sales position before placing the order.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 20 tonnes of pure unused peat in compressed bales under 2703 00 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. This example assumes the standard rate. Peat held out for sale solely as fuel takes the reduced rate under HMRC's VAT Notice 701/19 when the customer does not intend to resell it; other peat is standard-rated.

Inspection checklist

Composition: compare the supplier's ingredient declaration with samples and check for soil, roots, stones, plastic and undeclared additions.

Batch properties: test moisture, acidity, electrical conductivity and ash against the agreed specification.

Yield: loosen sampled bales using the agreed method and compare usable volume, fibre structure and particle size with the approved sample.

Packing: inspect bale seals, tears, wet patches and batch identification on arrival. Keep a retained sample and record discrepancies through the quality inspection guide.

What goes wrong

Wet peat increases delivered weight without increasing usable material. Highly decomposed or excessively fine peat can behave differently from the approved sample, while tightly compressed bales may yield less usable volume than expected. Compare moisture and volume together rather than accepting bale weight alone.

A description such as horticultural peat can conceal a blended growing medium. Added organic ingredients can change the plant-health position, so do not accept substitutions without reviewing the composition. Torn packaging also makes contamination and moisture changes harder to trace.

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.