Sourcing rare-earth ore concentrates from China
Rare-earth ore concentrates classified under 2617 90 00 00 carry 0% UK duty from China, with no duty variation in the supplied record. Establish mineral identity and waste status before shipping; waste controls apply if the material is waste. Cambridge China Bridge sources rare-earth ore concentrates.
Duty on rare-earth ore concentrates
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, heading 2617 covers other ores and concentrates. The relevant candidate line for rare-earth ore concentrates is 2617 90 00 00, described as “Other”. The table shows buying descriptions sharing that line, rather than separate tariff subdivisions. This guide excludes radioactive material.
The supplied record shows 0% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspensions. It attaches import waste controls, export waste controls and an export mercury control. Confirm their application with your customs broker. Waste shipment controls apply where the material is waste; the exporter in China must start any required notification application with the dispatch authority.
Confirm the commodity code using mineral identity, processing history and the full assay, rather than the supplier's description alone. For the wider heading, see antimony and other ores. For notified waste entering England, obtain the necessary authority consents before shipment.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bagged rare-earth ore concentrates | 2617 90 00 00 | 0% | None |
Specify the mineral and recoverable rare-earth content
Name the mineral feedstock and describe the concentration process. Distinguish physically concentrated ore from chemically produced oxides, salts and recovered residues. Specify total rare-earth content on a dry basis and the individual element distribution, stating whether results are expressed as elements or oxide equivalents. Ask the receiving processor to approve the assay format and proposed feedstock.
Agree moisture, particle size, unwanted minerals and impurity limits, including iron, silica, arsenic and lead where relevant to the process. Request uranium and thorium results and a specialist radiological assessment where appropriate. Agree representative sampling, sealed retained samples and an independent laboratory for disputes.
Ask HSE or your adviser to confirm whether the processing history supports a UK REACH registration exemption for natural ores and concentrates that have not been chemically modified. For work with naturally occurring radioactive material, HSE states that notification or registration depends on the level of risk.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative bagged trial lot of rare-earth ore concentrate for a specialist processor under 2617 90 00 00, invoiced at £40,000 free on board, with £6,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £46,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £46,000, so it is £9,200. 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: match the producer, mineral description, processing history and lot references to the order and laboratory report.
Assay: independently sample the shipment and compare total rare-earth content, individual element distribution and impurities against the agreed dry-basis specification.
Physical condition: check moisture, particle size, caking and visible variation between bags or parts of the bulk load.
Packing: check bag seams, liners, leakage, lot marks and container dryness. Use the quality inspection guide to plan sampling and arrival checks.
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What goes wrong
A high total rare-earth assay can conceal an unsuitable element distribution. Results expressed as oxide equivalents can also be mistaken for elemental content. Selected samples, uneven blending and excess moisture can distort the apparent value of a shipment. Agree the reporting basis and dry-weight settlement before ordering.
Recovered residue sold as concentrate can leave waste status unresolved. Establish its origin and status before booking transport. For notified waste entering England, ask the Environment Agency to confirm any registration or licensing requirements for the importer and any permit or exemption needed for the recovery facility's proposed treatment. Ask your broker to confirm the procedure for the proposed China shipment.
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 rare-earth ore concentrates from China?
The supplied record shows 0% for 2617 90 00 00, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspensions. Confirm that the material belongs under this code.
What should a rare-earth concentrate assay show?
Request total rare-earth content, individual element distribution, moisture and agreed impurities. State whether results are elemental or oxide equivalents and use a dry basis.
Do rare-earth ore concentrates need UK REACH registration?
Natural ores and concentrates that are not chemically modified may qualify for a registration exemption. Ask HSE or your adviser to confirm using the producer's processing history.
Do concentrates imported from China need waste consent?
Waste controls apply if the material is waste. For notified imports into England, the exporter starts the application in China and the relevant authorities must consent before shipment.