Sourcing Raney nickel catalysts from China
Budget for 6% base UK duty on Raney nickel preparations from China under the residual catalyst line; listed suspensions elsewhere in the heading can reduce duty to 0%. Confirm classification and chemical compliance for the actual formulation before ordering. Cambridge China Bridge sources Raney nickel catalysts.
Base duty and formulation checks
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 7 November 2026, heading 3815 covers reaction initiators, reaction accelerators and catalytic preparations, not elsewhere specified or included. The supplied facts contain no dedicated Raney nickel line. The table therefore shows purchasing variants against the residual preparation code, subject to confirmation, rather than separate tariff subdivisions.
The residual line 3815 90 90 90 carries 6% base duty for China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measure recorded. It has a conditional 0% suspension for listed chemistry; do not assume a Raney formulation qualifies. Supported nickel catalysts have a separate 6% line, 3815 11 00 00. See the wider catalyst guide.
The tariff attaches import and export waste controls to these lines. For imports into England under notification controls, the Chinese exporter must apply to its competent authority for consent. Confirm the waste status and applicable requirements with your customs broker before shipping spent or recovered material. Confirm the commodity code using composition, preparation method and any support.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unsupported Raney nickel catalyst in water, subject to classification | 3815 90 90 90 | 6% | None |
Specify the wet catalyst and its activity
Specify nickel content on a dry basis, residual aluminium, any promoter, particle-size distribution, wet solids content and the storage liquid. State whether the order is fresh activated material or regenerated catalyst. Agree an activity test using your reaction conditions, with acceptance criteria for conversion, selectivity and filtration.
Ask for an English safety data sheet, the supplier's handling instructions and a UK REACH position. The site's wider catalyst guide identifies dangerous goods packing and transit temperature control for pyrophoric catalysts. Agree the wet preservation condition and packaging with the supplier and carrier before dispatch.
HSE says everyone in the supply chain is responsible for correct chemical labelling and packaging before placing goods on the market. Arrange competent review of the supplied formulation and documents rather than relying on a generic nickel product sheet.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 600 kg of wet Raney nickel catalyst, subject to classification under 3815 90 90 90, invoiced at £24,000 free on board, with £2,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £26,500. Duty at 6% is £1,590. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £28,090, so it is £5,618. Import taxes total £7,208; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,590 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Identity: match the batch certificate, container labels and order to the agreed nickel, aluminium and promoter composition.
Wet condition: check sealed containers for leakage, damaged closures and evidence that the agreed storage liquid has been lost. Follow the safety data sheet when sampling.
Performance: compare batch activity, selectivity and filtration with the approved sample using the agreed test method.
Documents: check the English safety data sheet, hazard labels, transport paperwork and batch traceability. Agree the sampling scope through our inspection guide.
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What goes wrong
A wet-weight quotation can hide a different catalyst solids content. An acceptable nickel assay can still accompany poor activity or difficult filtration. Regenerated material supplied as fresh, an undisclosed promoter or a change of storage liquid can undermine the buyer's process trial.
Leaking closures and inconsistent preservation create handling problems. Hold a damaged or mismatched batch for specialist assessment using its safety data sheet. Agree the response to failed activity tests and the treatment of spent catalyst before ordering.
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 Raney nickel from China?
The residual catalyst line 3815 90 90 90 has 6% base duty. A listed suspension is conditional, so confirm the formulation and classification before claiming relief. No trade remedy is recorded.
Is Raney nickel covered by the supported nickel code?
Do not choose it merely because nickel is active. Give your broker the preparation method, composition and any support; the supplied facts have no dedicated Raney nickel line.
What should I test before buying a batch?
Agree dry-basis composition, wet solids content, particle size and an activity test in your process. Include selectivity and filtration, and compare the batch with the approved sample.
Can I import spent Raney nickel as ordinary catalyst?
Confirm waste status first. The tariff attaches waste controls. For notified waste imports into England, the exporter applies to the dispatch-country authority for consent.