Sourcing precipitated barium sulphate from China

Barium sulphate: 4% duty from China

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 22 November 2026, barium sulphate under 2833 27 00 00 carries 4% duty from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension for this line. The table shows applications sharing the same tariff line, rather than separate commodity codes.

Heading 2833 covers sulphates, alums and peroxosulphates. This guide concerns precipitated barium sulphate; natural barytes belongs to the mineral chapter. Confirm the commodity code using the manufacturing route, composition and any surface treatment. See sulphates and alums for the wider heading.

The tariff attaches import and export waste controls. Confirm their application to the proposed consignment with your customs broker. For imports into England under waste notification controls, the exporter must apply to the competent authority in the dispatch country for consent. For a shipment from China, that application starts there.

Specify the precipitated powder and its application

Specify precipitated material, intended application, assay basis, particle size distribution, whiteness, moisture and soluble impurities. Ask whether the powder is untreated or surface-treated, and identify any treatment. Agree test methods and acceptance criteria rather than accepting a grade name alone. Trial a representative sample in your coating, plastic or rubber formulation for dispersion, colour and processing behaviour.

Before sale, ensure the substance is correctly labelled and packaged. Request the safety data sheet and a batch certificate of analysis for review alongside the agreed specification.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 24 tonnes of precipitated barium sulphate in 25 kg bags under 2833 27 00 00, invoiced at £4,800 free on board, with £1,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £6,300. Duty at 4% is £252. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £6,552, so it is £1,310.40. Import taxes total £1,562.40; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £252 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Identity: match the purchase specification, bag labels and batch certificate; confirm precipitated material and declared surface treatment.

Particle size: compare the distribution with the agreed method and inspect dispersion in the buyer's formulation for persistent agglomerates.

Purity and colour: test assay, soluble impurities, moisture and whiteness against the approved sample and contract criteria.

Packing and traceability: check bag seals, liners, net weights, batch numbers and signs of damp or contamination. Arrange quality inspection before dispatch and retain arrival samples.

What goes wrong

A similar-looking powder can perform differently if the particle distribution, surface treatment or impurity profile changes. An average particle size alone can hide coarse particles. Poor dispersion may leave specks in coatings, while a whiteness shift can change the finished colour. Compare batches using the same preparation and test methods.

Wet or damaged bags can leave caked powder and break batch traceability. Keep affected stock separate, photograph the packaging and compare arrival samples with retained pre-shipment samples before accepting the lot.

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.