Sourcing Silicomanganese from China

Silicomanganese duty and chemical checks

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, silicomanganese under 7202 30 00 00 carried 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied snapshot lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension, steel measure or attached import control for this line. Heading 7202 covers ferro-alloys. The table repeats the silicomanganese code for different buying forms; these are not separate tariff subdivisions.

Zero duty does not settle chemical compliance. Check the alloy's substance identities and your UK REACH registration position before importing. HSE states that registration is assessed per substance and legal entity, including substances within mixtures. Before placing substances or mixtures on the Great Britain market, importers must classify, label and package them under the applicable chemical rules.

Confirm the commodity code against the actual analysis and product description. For related manganese alloys within this heading, see ferromanganese from China.

Specify manganese, silicon and lump size

Write separate acceptance limits for manganese and silicon, alongside carbon, phosphorus and sulphur. Specify the size range, permitted fines, packing method and batch identification. A supplier's grade name alone does not define everything your process needs.

Agree sampling and sample preparation using ISO 3713, an independent laboratory and an umpire laboratory for disputes. Ask for batch analysis before loading and keep sealed reference samples. Request the safety data sheet and review the chemical compliance position against the supplied composition and physical form.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 25 tonnes of silicomanganese lump material, illustrative under 7202 30 00 00, invoiced at £30,000 free on board, with £2,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £32,500. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £32,500, so it is £6,500. 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

Analysis: compare independent results for manganese, silicon and impurities with the signed specification and batch certificate.

Size: screen representative samples for oversized lumps and fines against the agreed limits.

Packing: check bags, container floors and material for damage, moisture and contamination.

Traceability: match bag markings, batch certificates, sample seals and shipment records before releasing the material for use.

What goes wrong

A batch can meet the supplier's grade description while missing your manganese or silicon limits. Excess phosphorus, sulphur or carbon can also make it unsuitable for the intended melt. Too many fines reduce usable lump material, while mixed batches make a single certificate unreliable.

Quarantine disputed material, photograph the packing and preserve representative samples before bags are emptied or lots are mixed. Use the agreed umpire analysis to resolve differences between the loading certificate and arrival results.

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.