Sourcing sodium metal from China
Sodium metal from China pays 4% UK duty, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. It reacts with water and travels as dangerous goods. For supply in Great Britain, arrange competent chemical classification and labelling, correct packaging and a safety data sheet. Cambridge China Bridge sources sodium metal.
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Sodium metal duty and waste controls
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 4 October 2026, sodium metal under 2805 11 00 00 carries 4% duty for goods from China, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing measure and no suspension. Heading 2805 covers alkali and alkaline-earth metals, rare-earth metals, scandium, yttrium and mercury. This guide covers sodium metal only. The forms in the table share the same sodium line.
The tariff attaches import and export waste controls. Waste shipment controls apply only where the material is waste. For a notified waste shipment from China into England, the exporter applies to the Chinese competent authority, and shipment needs consent from the Environment Agency and other authorities involved. The importer needs the relevant waste licence and the recovery facility an appropriate permit or exemption. Ask your customs broker to confirm the controls, including any proposed return shipment.
Confirm the supplied material and its commodity code before ordering. For another alkali metal within the wider heading, see lithium metal ingots.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sodium metal ingots | 2805 11 00 00 | 4% | None |
Specify purity, form and protective packing
Specify sodium assay, the impurities relevant to your process, the analysis method, and whether you need ingots, blocks, sticks or pieces. Agree dimensions and net metal weight separately from protective oil and packaging. Ask for a batch certificate of analysis and agree how a specialist laboratory will take and test a sample.
Sodium reacts with water. Agree sealed packing under suitable protective oil or inert gas, and identify the protective medium in the purchase specification. Confirm sodium's dangerous goods transport classification and applicable shipping requirements with a dangerous goods specialist and the carrier. Arrange the dangerous goods declaration and carrier acceptance before dispatch, rather than treating a small trial order as an ordinary parcel.
For supply in Great Britain, arrange scientifically competent classification and labelling, correct packaging and a safety data sheet for workplace supply. Check your UK REACH registration position, including whether annual sodium imports reach 1 tonne and whether a supplier-appointed representative covers your imports.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 50 kg of sodium metal pieces in sealed protective packaging under 2805 11 00 00, invoiced at £2,000 free on board, with £1,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £3,200. Duty at 4% is £128. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £3,328, so it is £665.60. Import taxes total £793.60; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £128 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Assay: match the batch certificate to the order and compare sodium content and agreed impurities with the specification.
Packing: check unopened containers for damaged closures, leakage and external moisture; match the protective medium to the packing record.
Weight and traceability: distinguish net sodium weight from oil and container weight, and match batch markings to the certificate and packing list.
Documents: reconcile hazard labels, the safety data sheet and dangerous goods declaration with the supplied material. Agree specialist sampling as part of your inspection plan.
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What goes wrong
A purity certificate can describe a different batch, protective oil can be counted as metal weight, and seals can be damaged in transit. Pieces may also be too large for the buyer's process. Agree acceptance criteria and document the unopened packing condition on arrival; appearance alone does not establish purity.
A carrier may refuse an undeclared dangerous goods shipment. Waste status can also change the import route. Resolve carrier acceptance, the chemical supply documents and any waste classification before dispatch, and arrange specialist assessment of damaged packing.
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 metal from China?
The supplied tariff record shows 4% under 2805 11 00 00, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension.
Can sodium metal be sent as an ordinary parcel?
Arrange protective sealed packing, a dangerous goods declaration and a carrier that accepts the shipment.
Does imported sodium metal need UK REACH registration?
Check registration coverage when annual imports reach 1 tonne. A non-GB supplier may appoint a GB-based representative to fulfil importer obligations; confirm that your imports are covered.
Does the tariff waste control apply to new sodium metal?
Waste shipment controls apply only if the material is waste. Confirm its status with your broker; notified waste imports into England need the applicable consents before shipment.