Sourcing pigments and titanium dioxide from China

Mostly 6%

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 27 September 2026, pigments and preparations based on titanium dioxide or chromium compounds, ultramarine, lithopone and other zinc sulphide pigments and other colouring matter of heading 3206 carried 6% duty on goods from China, magnetite 0% and inorganic luminophores 4% at the standard rate. Luminophores (3206 50 00 00) and lithopone (under 3206 42 00 00) had 0% suspensions to the end of 2028, as did named grades: titanium dioxide coated with isopropoxytitanium triisostearate, a listed mica and titanium dioxide preparation, C.I. Pigment Blue 27 and C.I. Pigment Black 12. Several named pigments have their own lines. The rutile titanium dioxide registration appears on all four lines for pigments and preparations with 80% or more titanium dioxide (3206 11 00 10, 30, 80 and 85), but not on 3206 19.

Iron oxide pigments are in heading 2821, organic pigments and dyes in 3204, and ready-made paints in 3208 to 3210; confirm the commodity code. For finished water-based coatings, see water-based paints and varnishes.

The titanium dioxide investigation

The Trade Remedies Authority opened an anti-dumping investigation into rutile titanium dioxide from China on 3 March 2026, and a notice registering those imports took effect from 27 March 2026. On 27 September 2026 the tariff showed the registration, with additional code 8A60 for rutile titanium dioxide and 8A61 for other goods under the code, but no anti-dumping duty. Registration means that, if a definitive duty is imposed, it can be applied to imports made during the registration period, so price contracts for rutile titanium dioxide should say who carries that risk.

On 7 October 2026 the Trade Remedies Authority published its initial recommendation for case AD0086: it found dumping and an imminent threat of injury to the UK industry, and proposed a mixed anti-dumping duty for five years. For cooperating exporters, sampled or not, the proposal is 48.29% of value with a minimum of £0.665 per kg; for all other exporters it is 63.66% with a minimum of £0.876 per kg. Whichever element raises more revenue applies. Interested parties have until 26 October to comment, and the Authority then makes its final recommendation to the Secretary of State. These are proposed rates, not final ones, and they are not yet in the tariff.

Chemical rules

Pigments are substances or mixtures under UK REACH and GB CLP, so GB importers at or above one tonne per substance a year need a registration position, and hazardous grades need labels and safety data sheets. The lead chromate pigments C.I. Pigment Yellow 34 and C.I. Pigment Red 104 are on the UK REACH authorisation list in Annex XIV, so they cannot be used in Great Britain without an authorisation unless the use is exempt. Pigments for toys, cosmetics or food contact materials must also meet the heavy metal limits of those regimes. For finished ink procurement, see our printing inks sourcing guide.

Worked duty example

An invented example rather than a quote: 10 tonnes of pigment preparations, commodity code 3206 49 70 90, bought for £24,000 free on board, with £2,000 of freight and insurance, so £26,000 is the value customs works from. Duty at the 6% rate for pigment preparations is £1,560. VAT at 20% applies to £27,560, so £5,512. A VAT-registered buyer usually recovers the VAT, so the border adds £1,560 to the landed cost. See calculating UK import duty and VAT for the method.

Inspection checklist

Shade and strength against the reference: measure colour in full shade by ISO 787-25 and relative tinting strength by ISO 787-24 against the agreed reference sample, and oil absorption by ISO 787-5, and reject a batch outside the limits agreed in the contract.

Titanium dioxide grade: ISO 591-1 sets the specification and test methods for titanium dioxide pigments. Check the certificate of analysis for crystal form (rutile or anatase), TiO2 content and surface treatment, and test volatile matter at 105 °C by ISO 787-2 and pH of an aqueous suspension by ISO 787-9 on a sample from each batch.

End use and packing: for toys, check soluble heavy metals in the finished coating against the migration limits of BS EN 71-3; for every order, check the batch number on each bag matches the certificate, weigh sampled bags, and check liners and shrink-wrap are intact before loading.

What goes wrong

Pigments fail on shade, dispersion and grade. A batch that matches the standard in a drawdown can still differ in tinting strength, so paint or plastic made from it is off shade. Poor surface treatment leaves titanium dioxide that disperses badly or chalks outdoors, anatase supplied against a rutile order yellows and weathers faster, and bags that are not moisture-proof cake in the container.

Agree a reference sample and test each batch against it for shade, tinting strength and oil absorption, ask for the certificate of analysis showing crystal form and surface treatment for titanium dioxide, check heavy metals for regulated end uses, and specify lined bags on shrink-wrapped pallets.

Cambridge China Bridge sources titanium dioxide, inorganic pigments and pigment preparations, with batch testing, chemical compliance and the trade remedy position agreed before the order. See how we source chemicals and raw materials.

Related guides: Sourcing titanium oxides from China.