Sourcing Silver Flakes from China
Silver flakes classified as silver powder carry 0% UK duty from China; all supplied heading lines have the same rate. Before importing a new substance, assess whether UK REACH registration is required. Confirm particle form, composition and waste status before ordering. Cambridge China Bridge sources silver flakes.
Silver flakes duty and classification
Heading 7106 covers silver, including silver plated with gold or platinum, in powder, unwrought or semi-manufactured form. For dry silver flakes supplied as powder, ask your broker to confirm 7106 10 00 00. The table describes purchasing variants under this same powder line, rather than separate commodity classifications. For the wider product family, see silver powder.
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, all supplied lines carry 0% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measures or suspensions listed. The powder line has import and export waste controls attached. Confirm their application to your shipment with your customs broker. If flakes from China are waste subject to notification controls and enter England, shipment can begin only after consent from the Environment Agency and the other competent authorities involved.
Give your broker the composition, particle photographs, manufacturing description, surface treatment and confirmation of whether the shipment is product or waste. Confirm the code through finding your commodity code. Assess pastes, silver-coated base-metal particles and decorative leaf separately rather than assuming that this powder code applies.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry silver flake powder, fine particle grade | 7106 10 00 00 | 0% | None |
Specify flake shape, surface treatment and performance
Specify solid silver flakes and disclose any alloy constituents or surface treatment. Agree silver content, impurity limits, particle-size distribution, flake thickness, shape, moisture, bulk density and net pack weight. State whether the material is dry powder or supplied in a liquid carrier. Request batch-linked analysis and particle images using agreed methods.
Trial the sample in your intended binder and process. For conductive inks or adhesives, agree dispersion, settling, processing conditions and electrical resistance after curing. Retain an approved sample and record the formulation used, so production batches can be compared meaningfully.
Before importing silver as a new substance, assess whether UK REACH registration is required. Chemical hazard classification is the responsibility of suppliers, including importers. Request the supplier's safety information and classification rationale for the actual flake grade, rather than relying on documents for a different silver form.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative small-business batch of dry silver flakes in sealed packs; net weight agreed separately under 7106 10 00 00, invoiced at £30,000 free on board, with £300 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £30,300. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £30,300, so it is £6,060. 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
Composition: match pack identifiers to batch analysis and independently check silver content and agreed impurities on production samples.
Particles: compare size distribution, thickness and shape with the approved sample; inspect for hard agglomerates and foreign particles.
Packing and weight: check seals, leakage, moisture and batch labels; reconcile net powder weight separately from containers.
Process trial: repeat the agreed dispersion and cured-resistance checks using the intended binder and conditions. Record results through quality inspection.
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What goes wrong
Silver-coated base-metal particles can resemble solid silver flakes. A changed surface treatment or particle distribution can affect dispersion, settling and cured resistance even when silver content is unchanged. A certificate for the development sample does not establish the composition of the delivered batch.
Hard agglomerates, moisture and mixed batches can cause inconsistent processing. Agree batch identification, retained samples and acceptance tests before ordering. Keep suspect packs separate until composition and process results have been checked.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For own-brand ranges, see sourcing for brands.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on silver flakes from China?
The supplied tariff record gives 0% duty for silver powder under 7106 10 00 00, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measures or suspensions. Confirm that your flakes belong under this powder line.
Do silver flakes need UK REACH registration?
Before importing a substance you have not previously imported, assess whether UK REACH registration is required. Provide the substance identity, composition and planned annual import volume for that assessment.
Are silver flakes covered by waste import controls?
The powder line has waste controls attached. Confirm applicability with your broker. For notified waste entering England, shipment requires consent from the Environment Agency and the other competent authorities involved.
How do I check silver flakes for conductive adhesives?
Check batch composition, particle distribution, surface treatment and agglomeration. Trial dispersion and cured electrical resistance in your intended binder using the agreed processing conditions.