Sourcing potassium nitrate fertiliser from China
Potassium nitrate based fertiliser preparations classified under heading 3105 carry 2% to 6% UK duty from China on the relevant lines. Confirm the formulation before using these rates for pure potassium nitrate. In Great Britain, potassium nitrate is a reportable explosives precursor. Cambridge China Bridge sources potassium nitrate fertiliser.
Buying from China for a business? How our UK China sourcing agent service works · China sourcing agent for small orders and first imports
2% to 6% for relevant fertiliser preparations
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 3105 covers compound and other fertilisers and specified small packs. Relevant potassium nitrate based preparations carry 6% for other nitrogen and potassium blends above 10% nitrogen, 2% for other blends with nitrogen up to 10%, and 6% for the selected small-pack and nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium lines. The table gives candidate classifications, subject to the complete formulation.
The selected lines show no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no tariff suspension. The small-pack line carries Veterinary control, with tariff wording referring to products of animal origin. The importer should confirm the requirement with their customs broker before shipping, including how it applies to the actual ingredients.
This table does not establish the code or duty for pure potassium nitrate. Give your broker the complete composition, nutrient analysis, intended use and packaging to confirm the commodity code. For another product within the wider heading, see monopotassium phosphate fertiliser.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Potassium nitrate based fertiliser preparations, packs up to 10 kg gross | 3105 10 00 90 | 6% | None |
| Other potassium nitrate based NK fertiliser blends, nitrogen above 10% | 3105 90 20 90 | 6% | None |
| Other potassium nitrate based fertiliser blends, nitrogen up to 10% | 3105 90 80 90 | 2% | None |
| Other potassium nitrate based NPK blends, nitrogen above 10% | 3105 20 10 90 | 6% | None |
Specify the potassium nitrate formulation
State whether you need potassium nitrate itself or a formulated fertiliser containing it. Specify nitrate nitrogen, water-soluble potash, potassium nitrate content, chloride, sodium, moisture and insoluble matter. Agree crystalline or granular form, particle size and any coating. For irrigation use, agree a dissolution check in your intended water and keep the approved sample for comparison.
For sale in Great Britain, confirm the applicable fertiliser type and nutrient declaration requirements with the relevant authority before approving bag artwork. Ask whether the domestic fertiliser rules prescribe the form of nutrient information; do not rely on translating the factory label alone. Match the batch analysis, label and sales specification.
Check UK REACH coverage before ordering. HSE says substances within mixtures must be registered when their aggregated imports reach 1 tonne or more per year. For a new registration, where downstream user notification provisions do not apply, registration must be complete before imports reach that quantity.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 25 tonnes of potassium nitrate based NK fertiliser blend in 25 kg bags under 3105 90 20 90, invoiced at £15,000 free on board, with £2,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £17,500. Duty at 6% is £1,050. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £18,550, so it is £3,710. Import taxes total £4,760; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,050 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Identity: compare the ingredient declaration, batch analysis and retained sample; confirm whether phosphate, ammonium nitrate or other nutrients have been added.
Analysis: independently sample the lot and check nitrate nitrogen, water-soluble potash, chloride, sodium, moisture and insoluble matter against the agreed specification.
Physical condition: check dissolution, residue, particle size and caking; compare bags from different parts of the shipment rather than a factory-selected sample.
Packing and labels: check liners, seams, seals, bag weights and batch marks on arrival; reconcile the nutrient declaration with the analysis. Arrange testing and certification around the agreed formulation.
Working out your own order? Send us the product on WhatsApp and we reply the same working day: WhatsApp us
What goes wrong
A supplier quotes potassium nitrate but delivers a blend, or changes the coating without approval. Nutrient results then differ from the purchase specification. Excess chloride, insoluble residue and wet, caked material can also make a shipment unsuitable for the buyer's irrigation system. Agree acceptance criteria and sample the shipment before release.
In Great Britain, potassium nitrate is currently a reportable explosives precursor; a Home Office consultation proposes changing that classification. Businesses must report disappearances, thefts and suspicious transactions involving listed chemicals, and tell business customers when a supplied substance is reportable. Put these checks into the sales process and recheck the position before supplying.
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 potassium nitrate fertiliser from China?
Relevant preparations under heading 3105 carry 2% to 6% on the selected lines, with no trade remedy or suspension recorded. These rates do not establish the duty for pure potassium nitrate; confirm its classification separately.
Can I use the Chinese fertiliser label in Great Britain?
Confirm the applicable fertiliser type and nutrient declaration requirements with the relevant authority before printing. Do not rely on a translation alone: confirm how the domestic fertiliser rules apply to the label.
Does potassium nitrate fertiliser need UK REACH registration?
Check coverage for each substance, including substances within a blend. HSE sets a registration threshold of 1 tonne per year per substance; resolve the applicable registration route before importing.
What should I test in water-soluble potassium nitrate fertiliser?
Check nitrate nitrogen, water-soluble potash, chloride, sodium, moisture and insoluble matter. Test dissolution in your intended water and compare residue and caking with the agreed acceptance criteria.