Rare-earth and alkali metals from China
Rare-earth, alkali and alkaline-earth metals from China pay 2% or 4% UK duty with no anti-dumping duty, but suspensions take most separated rare-earth metals, including neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium, cerium and yttrium, and high-purity lithium and calcium metal to 0% until 31 December 2028. Rare-earth intermixtures and sodium stay at 4%. Cambridge China Bridge sources them.
Rare-earth metals, lithium, calcium and sodium metal from China: UK duty of 0% to 4%, the suspensions to 2028, purity testing and dangerous goods.
Rates and suspensions
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 26 September 2026, separated rare-earth metals, scandium and yttrium of subheading 2805 30 21 to 2805 30 80 carried 2% on goods from China, and rare-earth intermixtures and alloys between themselves, sodium, calcium, strontium, barium and lithium carried 4%. None had an anti-dumping measure.
Suspensions to 31 December 2028 take many lines to 0%: separated cerium, lanthanum, praseodymium, neodymium, samarium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, europium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, lutetium, yttrium and scandium; cerium alloys with at least 47% cerium; lithium metal of 98.8% purity or more; and calcium of 98% purity or more in powder or wire form. They do not cover mixtures, and intermixtures containing neodymium or dysprosium stay at 4%. Magnets made from these metals are covered in our neodymium magnets guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neodymium | 2805 30 29 40 | 2%; 0% to 31 Dec 2028 | None |
| Praseodymium | 2805 30 29 30 | 2%; 0% to 31 Dec 2028 | None |
| Dysprosium | 2805 30 31 25 | 2%; 0% to 31 Dec 2028 | None |
| Cerium | 2805 30 21 10 | 2%; 0% to 31 Dec 2028 | None |
| Yttrium | 2805 30 39 55 | 2%; 0% to 31 Dec 2028 | None |
| Intermixtures containing neodymium | 2805 30 10 40 | 4% | None |
| Lithium metal, 98.8% purity or more | 2805 19 90 20 | 4%; 0% to 31 Dec 2028 | None |
| Calcium, 98% or more, powder or wire | 2805 12 00 10 | 4%; 0% to 31 Dec 2028 | None |
| Sodium | 2805 11 00 00 | 4% | None |
Dangerous goods and supply
Alkali metals react with water, so sodium (UN 1428) and lithium (UN 1415) travel as class 4.3 dangerous goods, sealed under oil or inert gas, with a dangerous goods declaration and a carrier that accepts them. Rare-earth metals oxidise in air, and fine powders can ignite, so ingots and pieces are shipped in drums sealed under argon or vacuum.
China produces most of the world's separated rare-earth metals, and some grades need export licences, so confirm before the order that the supplier can obtain any Chinese export licence the material requires and that the end use is stated as the licence needs. An importer of more than one tonne a year should check UK REACH.
Worked duty example
Suppose, purely for illustration, you import 500 kg of praseodymium-neodymium metal in argon-sealed drums under 2805 30 10 40. At £30,000 free on board and £1,200 to ship and insure, the customs value is £31,200. Rare-earth intermixtures at 4% pay £1,248 of duty; VAT is then worked out on value plus duty, £32,448, giving £6,489.60. Of the £7,737.60 paid at import, only the £1,248 of duty stays a cost for a VAT-registered business. Separated neodymium metal under 2805 30 29 40 would pay no duty while its suspension lasts. The method is set out in how UK import duty and VAT work.
What goes wrong
Metal lots fail on purity, oxidation and paperwork. The total rare-earth content meets the certificate but the relative purity of the named metal is lower, because a neighbouring rare earth that is hard to separate remains; oxygen and carbon pick-up from poor sealing makes the metal unusable for magnet alloys; drums arrive with damaged seals; and alloy blends are declared as separated metal to claim a suspension, which customs can reverse.
Test relative purity and trace rare earths by ICP-MS on each lot, oxygen, nitrogen and carbon by combustion analysis, and iron and other base metals; check drum seals and inert gas on arrival; confirm the composition supports the commodity code claimed; and keep the export licence and certificate of analysis with the entry.
Cambridge China Bridge sources rare-earth metals, lithium and calcium metal for magnet, alloy and battery makers, with purity testing and export licensing settled before the order. See how we verify suppliers.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on neodymium metal from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 26 September 2026, separated neodymium is 2% but a suspension takes it to 0% until 31 December 2028; intermixtures containing neodymium pay 4%.
Is lithium metal from China duty-free?
Lithium metal of 98.8% purity or more is 0% under a suspension to 31 December 2028; other lithium pays 4%.
How are rare-earth metals shipped?
Sealed in drums under argon or vacuum to stop oxidation; alkali metals travel as class 4.3 dangerous goods.
How do I check rare-earth metal purity?
Test relative purity and trace rare earths by ICP-MS, and oxygen and carbon by combustion analysis, on each lot.