Sourcing polyaluminium chloride from China
Polyaluminium chloride classified under the other chloride hydroxides line carries 4% UK duty from China; a narrowly defined suspension can give 0%. Confirm composition and classification before ordering, and establish the UK REACH position for the actual substance. Cambridge China Bridge sources polyaluminium chloride.
Normally 4%, with a substance-specific suspension
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 25 October 2026, heading 2827 covers chlorides, chloride oxides and chloride hydroxides, bromides and iodides. The candidate line 2827 49 90 90 carries 4% for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measure recorded. The table shows product forms against the same candidate line, rather than separate tariff subdivisions.
The recorded 0% suspension names dialuminium chloride pentahydroxide with purity by weight of 77% or more and excludes mixtures and preparations containing the named products. Do not assume it covers ordinary polyaluminium chloride. The tariff also attaches import and export waste controls. For a shipment from China treated as waste under notification controls, confirm the requirement with your broker; shipment needs consent from the competent authorities involved.
Polyaluminium chloride solutions may be classified as preparations rather than as a plain chloride. Give your broker the composition, chemical identity, physical form and additives to confirm the commodity code. For the wider heading, see ferric chloride and related chlorides.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polyaluminium chloride powder, subject to composition and classification | 2827 49 90 90 | 4% | None |
Specify aluminium content, basicity and treatment use
Specify powder, granules or liquid; aluminium content and its reporting basis; basicity; insolubles; iron and other impurity limits; and the test methods. For liquids, agree concentration, density and acidity. Identify any added sulphate or other ingredients rather than accepting the trade name alone.
Ask for a batch certificate of analysis and a sample for jar testing with your actual water. Agree the acceptance criteria for floc formation, settling and treated-water clarity. Keep drinking-water and wastewater applications separate in the purchase specification.
Establish the UK REACH position for the identified substance rather than inferring it from the word polyaluminium. HSE requires registration for substances imported into Great Britain at or above 1 tonne per year, subject to applicable exemptions or transitional arrangements. Obtain an English safety data sheet and applicable GB hazard labels where required.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 25 tonnes of polyaluminium chloride powder, assuming classification here and no suspension under 2827 49 90 90, invoiced at £9,000 free on board, with £4,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £13,500. Duty at 4% is £540. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £14,040, so it is £2,808. Import taxes total £3,348; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £540 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Identity: match the batch certificate, product specification and safety data sheet to the material supplied.
Composition: independently check aluminium content, basicity, insolubles and agreed impurities using the contracted methods.
Performance: compare the delivered batch with the approved sample in a jar test using representative water.
Packing: check seals, liners, liquid-container closures, batch marks and net weights; inspect powder for caking and liquids for leakage or sediment.
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What goes wrong
Matching colour does not establish matching performance. A batch can differ in basicity or aluminium content, contain excess insolubles, or perform differently in the buyer's water. Liquid concentration can differ from the approved sample, while damaged seals can leave powder caked or containers leaking.
A generic certificate can conceal a changed formulation, and a trade name can lead to the wrong tariff line or an unsupported suspension claim. Hold acceptance against the agreed specification and batch results. Arrange quality inspection around sampling, packaging and document checks.
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 polyaluminium chloride from China?
The candidate line 2827 49 90 90 carries 4%. A substance-specific 0% suspension is recorded, but ordinary polyaluminium chloride is not automatically eligible. Confirm composition and classification.
Are liquid and powder polyaluminium chloride interchangeable?
Specify them separately. Compare aluminium content on the same reporting basis, basicity, impurities and jar-test performance. Agree liquid concentration and the handling arrangements.
Does a Chinese certificate of analysis prove the batch is suitable?
Use it as batch evidence, then verify the agreed properties independently and test performance in representative water. Match the certificate to the delivered batch.
Does the tariff waste control apply to my order?
The tariff attaches waste controls. Ask your broker to confirm whether your shipment is treated as waste and which procedure applies. Notified waste cannot ship before the competent authorities consent.