Sourcing lime from China

Zero duty across the lime heading

Heading 2522 covers quicklime, slaked lime and hydraulic lime, excluding calcium oxide and hydroxide of heading 2825. Quicklime lumps and powder share the same commodity code; the table separates these buying forms rather than adding a tariff line.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 18 November 2026, all listed lines carried 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing measures, suspensions or attached import controls. Chemical supply obligations still need separate attention.

Confirm the commodity code using the composition, manufacturing process and intended use, rather than the supplier's description alone.

Specify lime type, chemistry and reactivity

State whether the order is quicklime, slaked lime or hydraulic lime. Agree available lime content, magnesium content, moisture, particle size and insoluble residue, with test methods and acceptance criteria. For quicklime, specify slaking behaviour; for hydraulic lime, agree setting and strength performance for the intended mortar.

For sale in Great Britain, importers must classify, label and package substances and mixtures before placing them on the market. Check the UK REACH registration position against annual substance volumes; HSE's new-registration guidance sets the threshold at 1 tonne per year. Ask for a safety data sheet matching the actual product.

For building lime, ask for the applicable construction-product assessment documents, declared performance and marking evidence. CE marking continues to be available for construction products placed on the Great Britain market. Match the documents to the manufacturer, product and intended use before accepting a generic certificate.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 10 tonnes of bagged hydraulic lime, illustrative order under 2522 30 00 00, invoiced at £9,000 free on board, with £1,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £10,200. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £10,200, so it is £2,040. 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: check the product type and batch identifiers against the purchase specification, analysis report and safety data sheet.

Chemistry: compare available lime, magnesium, moisture and insoluble residue with the agreed limits; retain a sealed sample for independent testing.

Performance: check grading and the agreed slaking or setting test results against the approved sample and intended process.

Packing: check bag seams, liners, pallet protection and signs of water entry, leakage or caking. Record arrival condition using the inspection guide.

What goes wrong

A description such as 'lime powder' leaves room for the wrong product or a blend. Chemistry and grading can vary between batches, while moisture-damaged bags arrive with hard lumps. Hydraulic lime that does not match the agreed setting behaviour can disrupt mortar work.

Approve a representative production sample and write acceptance tests into the order. Keep batch reports tied to bag markings, and investigate discrepancies before using or reselling the shipment. Check the manufacturer's processing and packing arrangements through factory verification.

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.