Sourcing potassium metal from China

Potassium metal duty and waste controls

Heading 2805 covers alkali and alkaline-earth metals, rare-earth metals, scandium, yttrium and mercury. Potassium metal falls within the residual alkali-metal line 2805 19 90 90. The table shows commercial forms under this same line. For the wider heading, see our sodium metal guide.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 4 October 2026, potassium metal from China carried 4% duty. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension for this line. It attaches import and export waste controls. For waste material from China, confirm the applicable notification and consent requirements with your customs broker. Waste imported into England under notification controls needs consent from the Environment Agency and the other competent authorities before shipment.

Confirm the metal identity, composition and protective medium before choosing the commodity code. Do not assume a potassium compound or alloy uses the same code. Ask the broker to review the product description and safety data sheet before dispatch.

Specify metal purity and protective packing

Specify potassium metal rather than a potassium salt, the required assay, named impurity limits, piece dimensions and net metal weight excluding the protective medium. Ask for a batch certificate of analysis showing the test method. Agree the protective oil or inert atmosphere, container material, closure and sampling arrangements with the supplier and receiving laboratory.

Alkali metals react with water. Confirm the dangerous goods classification and carriage requirements with the carrier, and that it accepts the actual potassium product and packing. Before supply in Great Britain, ensure correct hazard labelling and packaging; UK REACH requires safety data sheets. Confirm the UK REACH registration position for your annual import volume with HSE.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 25 kg of potassium metal pieces in sealed protective packaging under 2805 19 90 90, invoiced at £4,000 free on board, with £1,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £5,200. Duty at 4% is £208. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £5,408, so it is £1,081.60. Import taxes total £1,289.60; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £208 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Identity: match the purchase specification, batch certificate and container labels to potassium metal and the agreed protective medium.

Purity: review assay and impurity results against the contract; arrange any independent sampling through a laboratory equipped to handle reactive metal.

Packing: check unopened containers for damaged closures, leakage and external moisture; refer suspect packs to the receiving site's chemical specialist.

Documents: match batch references, declared net metal weight, safety data sheet and dangerous goods paperwork. Agree the checks through our inspection guide.

What goes wrong

A certificate may report purity without stating the method or named impurities. The quoted weight may include protective oil, or the supplied pieces may not suit the buyer's process. Write these acceptance points into the order and agree how a disputed batch will be assessed.

Damaged seals or missing protective medium can leave reactive metal exposed. A supplier's packing description also does not establish carrier acceptance. Confirm the transport arrangements before dispatch and arrange specialist assessment of suspect containers before opening them.

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.