Sourcing sodium hypophosphite from China
Sodium hypophosphite from China has a 4% UK base duty, with qualifying goods suspended to 0%. Match the hydrate form, purity and solution concentration to the tariff description. Before selling in Great Britain, the importer must ensure correct chemical classification, labelling and packaging. Cambridge China Bridge sources sodium hypophosphite.
Base duty and sodium hypophosphite suspensions
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 6 November 2026, heading 2835 covers hypophosphites, phosphites, phosphates and polyphosphates. This guide covers sodium hypophosphite only. Its relevant lines carry a 4% base duty with autonomous suspensions to 0%, and the supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty. See phosphates and STPP for the wider heading.
The named lines distinguish monohydrate from sodium hypophosphite of at least 97% purity by weight or aqueous solution containing 55% to 65% by weight. The suspension on the other line applies only to sodium hypophosphite. Suspension footnotes exclude mixtures, preparations and products made up of different components containing these products. Have the broker confirm eligibility for the actual formulation, particularly a solution.
The tariff attaches import and export waste controls. Waste shipment controls apply only when the material is waste. For waste from China, ask the broker to confirm the applicable requirements before ordering. For notified waste imports into England, the exporter applies through the dispatch country's competent authority, and shipment follows consent from the Environment Agency and other authorities involved. Confirm the commodity code using chemical identity, hydrate form, assay and composition.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sodium hypophosphite monohydrate | 2835 10 00 10 | 4% | None |
| Sodium hypophosphite solid, purity by weight at least 97% | 2835 10 00 50 | 4% | None |
| Other sodium hypophosphite grades, subject to classification | 2835 10 00 90 | 4% | None |
Specify hydrate form, assay and solution strength
State whether you need monohydrate, another solid grade or an aqueous solution. Identify the chemical precisely and specify whether assay is reported on the supplied material or a dry basis. Agree solution concentration, moisture or water content, insoluble matter, named impurity limits and analytical methods. For plating use, assess a sample in your own bath before approving the production grade.
Ask for a batch certificate of analysis and a safety data sheet matching the supplied form. Agree sealed, moisture-resistant packaging for solids and compatible leak-resistant containers for solutions. Confirm the applicable UK REACH position with HSE for your annual substance imports. Before placing imported chemicals on the Great Britain market, importers must ensure correct classification, labelling and packaging.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: one tonne of sodium hypophosphite monohydrate under 2835 10 00 10, invoiced at £4,000 free on board, with £2,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £6,000. Duty at 4% is £240. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £6,240, so it is £1,248. Import taxes total £1,488; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £240 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Identity: match the product name, hydrate form and batch references across the order, container labels and certificate of analysis.
Analysis: independently check assay, solution strength where applicable, water content, insoluble matter and the impurities named in the purchase specification.
Packaging: inspect liners, closures and seals for damage, dampness or leakage; record caking, contamination and discrepancies in net weight.
Documents: check that the safety data sheet describes the delivered grade and that labels match the agreed classification. Include these checks in the inspection brief.
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What goes wrong
A certificate can report a dry-basis assay when the buyer expects the supplied material's assay. Monohydrate and other grades can be confused, and solution concentration can miss the ordered specification. These differences change how much material the buyer doses. A generic certificate without a matching batch reference cannot establish the delivered lot's quality.
Damp solids can arrive caked, while solution containers can leak or carry labels copied from a different grade. Agree sampling and acceptance methods before shipment, retain an approved sample and hold discrepant batches apart until identity and analysis are resolved.
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 hypophosphite from China?
The supplied tariff record shows a 4% base duty on the relevant lines, with conditional suspensions to 0%. It lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty. Confirm suspension eligibility for the exact goods.
Which commodity code covers sodium hypophosphite solution?
2835 10 00 50 names aqueous solution containing 55% to 65% sodium hypophosphite by weight. Ask your broker to confirm classification and suspension eligibility from the complete composition.
Does sodium hypophosphite need UK REACH registration?
Confirm the UK REACH registration requirements for your annual imports with HSE. Establish the applicable registration arrangements before ordering; a factory's certificate of analysis does not settle registration.
What should I test before accepting a sodium hypophosphite batch?
Check chemical identity, hydrate form, assay basis, solution concentration where applicable, water content, insoluble matter and agreed impurities. Match independent results to the delivered batch.