Sourcing Sodium Borohydride from China

Sodium borohydride duty and scope

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 2850 covers hydrides, nitrides, azides, silicides and borides, excluding compounds that are also carbides. Solid sodium borohydride falls within the other hydrides and nitrides line, 2850 00 20 90. See the wider heading guide.

The supplied tariff facts show 4% duty for goods from China and no anti-dumping or countervailing measure. The suspension on this line names specified lithium aluminium hydride solutions and titanium nitride, excluding sodium borohydride. The tariff also attaches waste import and export controls. Waste shipment controls apply only to waste; for waste material from China, confirm the applicable requirement with your customs broker before shipment.

Confirm the composition and form against the commodity code guide, particularly for solutions or formulated preparations. Confirm the applicable safety data sheet and chemical labelling requirements with HSE and arrange the documents and labels before supply.

Specify assay, impurities and physical form

State whether you need solid sodium borohydride or a formulated solution. For solids, agree assay, moisture, impurity limits, particle size and the test methods. For solutions, identify the solvent, concentration and stabiliser rather than accepting a description that gives only the active substance.

Request a batch certificate of analysis and a retained sample. Agree sealed packaging, storage instructions and transport classification before booking. Ask the producer to explain how its assay method distinguishes active borohydride from other material.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 25 kg of solid sodium borohydride under 2850 00 20 90, invoiced at £2,000 free on board, with £2,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £4,000. Duty at 4% is £160. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £4,160, so it is £832. Import taxes total £992; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £160 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Identity: match the product name, physical form and batch references across the order, labels, analysis certificate and safety data sheet.

Assay: have an independent laboratory check a representative sample against the agreed assay and impurity limits.

Packing: check seals, closures and liners for damage, leakage or evidence of moisture entry; record any caking.

Documents: check the English safety data sheet, UK REACH route and chemical labels against the actual supplied material.

What goes wrong

A certificate can describe a different batch, use an assay method you have not agreed, or omit impurities relevant to your process. A solid grade and a stabilised solution also need different purchasing specifications. Approve the actual formulation and test method before placing the order.

Damaged seals and damp packing warrant investigation before release into production. Record defects, preserve batch identity and agree a laboratory sampling plan through the inspection guide.

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.