Sourcing sodium nitrate fertiliser from China

6% for other sodium nitrate

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 3 October 2026, heading 3102 covers mineral or chemical nitrogenous fertilisers. Its sodium nitrate family contains only the two commodity lines shown here. Other sodium nitrate carries 6% duty for goods from China; natural Chilean sodium nitrate carries 0%.

Neither sodium nitrate line lists anti-dumping or countervailing duty, a suspension or an attached import control in the supplied tariff record. The natural Chilean description is a separate classification: do not apply it to Chinese-made material merely because the supplier calls it natural.

Confirm the composition, manufacturing origin and pack size with your customs broker using our commodity code guide. The urea and nitrogen fertilisers guide covers the wider heading.

Specify nitrate nitrogen and physical form

Specify sodium nitrate identity, nitrate nitrogen content, purity, moisture, insoluble matter and the limits you need for chloride contamination. State whether you want crystals or granules, the agreed particle size distribution and any anti-caking treatment. Ask for a batch analysis and a retained sample tied to the production lot.

Confirm with the relevant authority which type and nutrient declarations apply to fertilisers sold in Great Britain. Approve the label artwork against the batch analysis before packing, rather than simply translating the factory label.

Check UK REACH registration responsibilities before ordering. Importing 1 tonne or more of a substance annually generally brings registration responsibilities. Confirm whether you hold the necessary registration or the manufacturer has appointed a representative to fulfil the importer duties. Classification, labelling and packaging duties also apply to chemical suppliers in Great Britain.

For Great Britain sales, sodium nitrate is a reportable explosives precursor. You must tell business customers that it is reportable under the Poisons Act and report suspicious transactions or attempts, and significant losses or thefts, within 24 hours of discovery. A current consultation proposes changing its classification; check the position before supply.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 25 tonnes of sodium nitrate fertiliser in 25 kg bags under 3102 50 00 89, invoiced at £9,000 free on board, with £2,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £11,500. Duty at 6% is £690. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £12,190, so it is £2,438. Import taxes total £3,128; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £690 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Identity: check the product name, batch reference and analysis describe sodium nitrate, with no unexplained substitution or added ingredients.

Analysis: independently sample the shipment and compare nitrate nitrogen, purity, moisture, insoluble matter and chloride with the contract.

Physical condition: inspect crystals or granules for excessive fines, hard caking, contamination and variation between bags.

Packing and labels: inspect liners, closures and seams for moisture ingress or leakage; compare nutrient declarations and batch references with the approved artwork and analysis.

What goes wrong

A purity figure alone does not show whether the shipment meets the agreed nitrogen declaration or contamination limits. Wet packing, broken closures and unsuitable storage can leave a lot caked or contaminated. Unrelated batch certificates and inconsistent bag markings also make acceptance difficult.

Agree the sampling and acceptance method before production, retain arrival samples and hold disputed stock while it is tested. Check the chemical documentation and reporting process before resale. Our quality inspection guide explains how to brief an independent inspector.

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.