Sourcing reactive alumina powder from China
Reactive alumina powder from China normally carries 4% UK duty. The relevant line ranges from 0% to 4%, but its suspension is restricted to manufacture of auto-catalyst monoliths. Check the UK REACH registration position and agree particle sizing and trial performance. Cambridge China Bridge sources reactive alumina powder.
Reactive alumina duty and classification
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 2818 covers artificial corundum, aluminium oxide and aluminium hydroxide. Reactive alumina powder should be checked against 2818 20 00 90, other aluminium oxide. The listed buying specifications share this commodity line; they are not separate tariff subheadings. See the wider calcined alumina powder guide.
The supplied tariff record shows 4% duty from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measure recorded. Its 0% suspension is specifically for manufacture of auto-catalyst monoliths and excludes mixtures, preparations and products containing different components. Ordinary ceramic or refractory use should be budgeted at 4%. The tariff attaches an import waste control. Confirm its application to the proposed China shipment with your customs broker; waste shipped under notification controls needs consent from the destination, dispatch and transit authorities.
Give your broker the composition, manufacturing process, intended use and batch analysis when confirming the commodity code. Do not select the activated alumina line solely because a supplier uses the word reactive. The worked order is illustrative, rather than a supplier quotation; see UK import duty and VAT for the calculation method.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reactive alumina powder for refractory castables | 2818 20 00 90 | 4% | None |
Specify reactive powder by sizing and process performance
Specify aluminium oxide content, sodium oxide, iron and silica limits, moisture, loss on ignition, specific surface area and particle size distribution. Agree the measurement method and sample preparation, including how agglomerates are dispersed. State whether you want a single powder grade or a blend, and name the formulation in which it will be used.
For castables, compare flow and water demand in your own formulation. For ceramic bodies, compare forming behaviour, fired shrinkage and density under your firing schedule. Keep an approved sample and require a batch certificate of analysis. A matching median particle size alone does not establish equivalent performance.
At annual imports of one tonne or more, check the UK REACH registration position before ordering. Classification and labelling must be carried out by someone with scientific competence. Request a safety data sheet for handling advice; one is required if a hazardous chemical is supplied for workplace use.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: An illustrative tonne of reactive alumina powder for a ceramic workshop under 2818 20 00 90, invoiced at £4,000 free on board, with £808 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £4,808. Duty at 4% is £192.32. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £5,000.32, so it is £1,000.06. Import taxes total £1,192.38; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £192.32 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Identity: match the bags, purchase order and certificate to the approved reactive powder grade and batch.
Chemistry: compare independent sample results for alumina, soda and agreed impurities with the contractual specification.
Sizing and trials: verify particle size distribution using the agreed dispersion method, then repeat the relevant casting or firing trial.
Packing: check liners, seals, bag weights, batch markings, moisture and hard agglomerates on arrival. Use the quality inspection guide to define the inspection brief.
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What goes wrong
A supplier substitutes ordinary calcined powder or changes the milling or blending process while retaining the same grade name. A certificate can show similar chemistry and median sizing while coarse particles or agglomerates change casting flow or fired results. Compare the full distribution and trial performance before accepting a replacement batch.
Wet liners, split bags and compacted powder make dosing and dispersion inconsistent. Photograph affected bags, isolate the lot and compare retained samples before using it. Keep the agreed sampling and test methods with the order so the factory and buyer can investigate the same evidence.
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 reactive alumina powder from China?
Normally 4% under 2818 20 00 90. The recorded 0% suspension is restricted to manufacture of auto-catalyst monoliths. No anti-dumping or countervailing measure is recorded.
Is reactive alumina the same as activated alumina?
Do not treat the names as interchangeable. Confirm the manufacturing process, surface area and intended use; the tariff has a separate activated alumina line.
What should I specify when buying reactive alumina?
Specify chemistry, soda, moisture, surface area and the full particle size distribution. Agree sample dispersion and compare casting or firing performance in your own formulation.
Does reactive alumina need UK REACH registration?
At annual imports of one tonne or more, check the UK REACH registration position for the substance before ordering. A supplier's batch certificate does not establish that position.