Sourcing Quartzite Powder from China

Zero duty on the quartzite line

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 6 October 2026, heading 2506 covers quartz other than natural sands and quartzite. The quartzite line, 2506 20 00 00, carries 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension.

This guide concerns powder made from quartzite. Confirm the mineral identity, grinding process and any additives through the commodity code guide. The purchasing forms in the table share the same quartzite tariff line; they are not separate tariff subdivisions. For the wider heading, see quartz and quartzite.

The UK Trade Tariff attaches import and export waste controls to this line. Waste shipment controls apply only where the material is waste. For Chinese material described as reclaimed powder, residue or waste, ask your customs broker to confirm the applicable requirement, including whether prior written notification and consent are needed, before shipment.

Specify the rock, chemistry and powder size

Ask the factory to identify the quarry source and confirm that the feedstock is quartzite. Agree silicon dioxide content, iron and aluminium limits, colour, particle size distribution, oversize allowance and moisture. A mesh description alone leaves too much unspecified. Use an approved sample and an agreed test method, with batch certificates of analysis and retained samples.

Arrange scientifically competent classification and labelling for supply in Great Britain. Request safety information addressing crystalline silica. A safety data sheet does not replace a workplace risk assessment. HSE guidance for weighing mineral powders containing silica describes dust extraction and respiratory protective equipment; assess bag opening, sampling and tipping before choosing handling controls.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 25 tonnes of quartzite powder; FOB and freight values are illustrative under 2506 20 00 00, invoiced at £11,000 free on board, with £2,400 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £13,400. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £13,400, so it is £2,680. With no duty, the only import tax is the VAT, which a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Identity and chemistry: match the batch certificate to the approved quartzite source and specification; send representative samples for independent checks of mineral identity and agreed impurities.

Particle size: compare the measured distribution and oversize residue with the agreed limits, using the same preparation and test method as the approved sample.

Moisture and condition: check for damp powder, hard lumps, colour changes and foreign particles; compare arrival samples with the sealed reference sample.

Packing and traceability: inspect liners, closures and bag seams for leaks or water entry; match bag batch marks to the packing list, analysis certificate and retained sample.

What goes wrong

A supplier may offer quartz powder against a quartzite enquiry, or change the quarry feedstock after sample approval. Chemistry and colour can then drift even when the powder looks similar. Require approval before a source or process change, and compare shipment samples with the agreed mineral identity and chemistry.

A matching mesh label can conceal a different particle distribution. Excess fines change handling behaviour, coarse particles remain in the mix, and moisture causes caking. Torn liners add contamination and dust leakage. Agree acceptance checks before ordering and keep suspect batches separate while the results are reviewed.

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.