Sourcing sodium hexametaphosphate from China
Sodium hexametaphosphate from China falls within other polyphosphates, carrying 4% UK duty with no suspension listed. Food grades must meet additive purity specifications; agree the intended use and batch testing before ordering. Cambridge China Bridge sources sodium hexametaphosphate.
Sodium hexametaphosphate duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 6 November 2026, heading 2835 covers phosphinates, phosphonates, phosphates and polyphosphates. Sodium hexametaphosphate belongs within the other-polyphosphates line, 2835 39 00 00. The table distinguishes purchasing forms under the same tariff line.
The supplied tariff data records 4% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measure and no suspension on this line. It attaches import and export waste controls. For material from China that is waste, confirm the applicable controls with your customs broker. Notified waste shipments to England require consent from the Environment Agency and the other competent authorities involved before shipment.
Confirm the commodity code using the chemical identity, composition and grade, particularly for blends sold under the product name. See phosphates and STPP for the wider heading.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sodium hexametaphosphate, technical-grade powder | 2835 39 00 00 | 4% | None |
Specify grade and solution performance
State whether the sodium hexametaphosphate is for food manufacture or a technical process. Agree powder or granules, assay, moisture, insoluble matter and solution acidity, with the test methods written into the specification. Ask for batch certificates covering arsenic, lead and fluoride, and test a sample in your actual formulation.
Confirm the applicable food-additive purity criteria for food-grade polyphosphates with the relevant food safety authority. Agree the relevant food-additive specification before accepting a supplier's food-grade claim. For consumer laundry and automatic dishwasher detergents, confirm any applicable phosphorus-content restrictions with the relevant authority and check the finished formulation.
For technical imports into Great Britain, establish your UK REACH position before ordering. The reference guide identifies annual imports of one tonne or more as requiring this check. HSE advises businesses importing a substance for the first time to consider whether registration is required.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: one tonne of technical-grade sodium hexametaphosphate under 2835 39 00 00, invoiced at £3,000 free on board, with £1,720 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £4,720. Duty at 4% is £188.80. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £4,908.80, so it is £981.76. Import taxes total £1,170.56; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £188.80 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Identity: match the product name, grade and batch references on bags, certificates and purchase documents.
Analysis: compare independently sampled assay, moisture, insoluble matter and agreed impurities with the batch certificate and purchase specification.
Performance: dissolve a sample using the agreed method and check residue, solution appearance and performance in the intended formulation.
Packing: check liners, seals, bag condition and weights; record dampness, caking or contamination during arrival inspection.
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What goes wrong
A technical grade supplied against a food-grade order can fail the agreed purity specification. A certificate with no matching batch reference cannot establish which material was tested. Do not accept a general phosphate certificate as evidence for the delivered sodium hexametaphosphate.
Moisture ingress can leave powder caked and difficult to dose. Material that passes an assay check can still miss your dissolution or formulation requirements. Agree a retained sample, sampling method and acceptance tests before shipment, and hold discrepant stock pending investigation.
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 sodium hexametaphosphate from China?
The supplied tariff data records 4% under 2835 39 00 00, with no suspension and no anti-dumping or countervailing measure.
Can I use technical-grade sodium hexametaphosphate in food?
A technical-grade description does not establish food suitability. Confirm the applicable food-additive purity criteria for food-grade polyphosphates with the relevant food safety authority; obtain batch analysis against the relevant specification.
Does sodium hexametaphosphate need UK REACH registration?
Check your intended use and annual import quantity. The reference guide flags one tonne or more annually; HSE advises first-time importers to consider whether registration is required.
What should I check when sodium hexametaphosphate arrives?
Match batch references, inspect bags for moisture and damage, compare analysis with the specification, and test dissolution and performance in your formulation.