Sourcing scheelite concentrate from China

UK duty on scheelite concentrate

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, heading 2611 covers tungsten ores and concentrates. Scheelite concentrate uses 2611 00 00 00. The table shows supply forms within this single commodity line, rather than separate tariff classifications. For the wider heading, see our tungsten ores guide.

The supplied tariff record shows 0% duty for goods from China, no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspensions. It attaches import and export waste controls. Waste shipment controls apply only where the material is waste. For notified waste imported into England, ask your customs broker or the Environment Agency to confirm where the exporter should start the application and which authorities' consent is needed before shipment.

Confirm the commodity code using mineral identity, processing history and waste status. Ask your customs broker to confirm the attached controls for the actual shipment from China, including any onward export. Ask HSE whether natural concentrate that has not been chemically modified qualifies for a UK REACH registration exemption.

Specify dry-basis assay and processor acceptance

Specify scheelite concentrate rather than an unspecified tungsten-bearing mixture. Agree tungsten content, whether the assay reports elemental tungsten or tungsten trioxide equivalent, the dry-basis calculation and the receiving processor's acceptance criteria. Set agreed limits for arsenic, phosphorus, sulphur, silica and other impurities relevant to the intended process.

Agree moisture, particle size, sampling across the shipment and sealed retained samples for disputed assays. Record the mine or feedstock source and beneficiation history. Specify bag construction, liners, closure and batch identification. Ask the processor to approve the specification and a representative sample before ordering.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative trial lot of bagged scheelite concentrate for a specialist processor under 2611 00 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 concentrate description, feedstock history and batch references to the order and laboratory report.

Assay: independently sample across the lot and compare dry-basis tungsten content, reporting basis and agreed impurities with the specification.

Moisture: check water content and particle size, recording wet pockets, caking and uneven material.

Packing: inspect bag seams, liners, closures, leakage and batch marks on arrival. Plan the checks using our quality inspection guide.

What goes wrong

A selected supplier sample can overstate the shipment's tungsten content. Confusing elemental tungsten with tungsten trioxide equivalent can make apparently similar assays incomparable. Moisture increases delivered weight without increasing payable metal, while uneven blending can hide impurity pockets. Agree representative sampling, dry-basis settlement and a dispute procedure.

Recovered residues offered as concentrate can leave waste status unresolved. Establish the material's status before booking transport. For notified waste imported into England, ask the Environment Agency to confirm any carrier, broker or dealer registration needed by the importer and any permit or exemption needed by the recovery facility for the treatment.

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.