Sourcing aluminium paste from China
Solvent-based aluminium pigment paste for paint manufacture carries 0% UK duty from China under 3212 90 00 00, with no listed trade remedy. Chemicals must be correctly labelled and packaged before sale in Great Britain. Cambridge China Bridge sources solvent-based aluminium pigment paste.
Zero duty on solvent-based aluminium paste
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 25 October 2026, heading 3212 covers pigments, including metallic powders and flakes, dispersed in non-aqueous media in liquid or paste form for paint manufacture, alongside stamping foils and retail colouring matter. Solvent-based aluminium pigment paste for this use falls within the supplied line 3212 90 00 00: 0% duty from China, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension.
The supplied tariff attaches an ozone-depleting-substance restriction on entry into free circulation, plus import and export waste controls. Obtain the solvent composition and ask your customs broker to confirm the ozone-related declaration. Imports of ozone-depleting substances into Great Britain require a licence. If a consignment is waste shipped under notification controls into England, the authorities of dispatch, destination and transit must consent before shipment. Confirm the applicable waste procedure with your broker before ordering reclaimed material.
Confirm the commodity code using the composition, non-aqueous carrier and intended paint-manufacturing use. The supplied facts contain only one relevant commodity line, so the table contains that line alone. See the hot stamping foils guide for the wider heading.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solvent-based aluminium pigment paste for paint manufacture | 3212 90 00 00 | 0% | None |
Specify the flakes, carrier and coating system
State whether you need a leafing or non-leafing grade, the aluminium content, particle-size distribution, flake shape, surface treatment and carrier solvent. Agree limits and test methods for solids, viscosity and coarse particles. Identify the resin, thinner, application method and finish the paste must work with.
Approve a sample through a coating trial in your actual formulation. Compare brightness, hiding, metallic appearance and adhesion with the agreed reference. Record the mixing method so the factory and buyer assess comparable samples.
For Great Britain, confirm with HSE the UK REACH registration position for each constituent substance, including substances imported in mixtures, based on annual imports. Confirm the safety data sheet and hazard labelling requirements for hazardous grades with HSE. Chemicals must be correctly labelled and packaged before being placed on the market. Ask for composition information and documents for the exact grade, with any solvent substitution subject to your approval.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 400 kg of solvent-based aluminium pigment paste under 3212 90 00 00, invoiced at £6,800 free on board, with £700 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £7,500. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £7,500, so it is £1,500. With no duty, the only import tax is the VAT, which a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Identity: check the grade, carrier solvent and batch references against the order, safety data sheet and certificate of analysis.
Paste condition: check for leakage, dried material, coarse particles and hard settling; assess whether the paste redistributes using the agreed mixing method.
Coating trial: compare metallic appearance, hiding and adhesion against the approved sample in the buyer's formulation.
Packing: check sealed containers, net contents, readable batch identification and the condition of lids and pallet restraints before dispatch and on arrival.
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What goes wrong
A change in flake size or leafing behaviour can alter the finish even when the paste looks similar in its container. A substituted solvent can change viscosity, drying or compatibility with the resin. Coarse particles can leave specks, while hard settling makes consistent dosing difficult.
Make the approved composition and coating trial part of the purchase specification. Keep reference samples from accepted batches, and hold a suspect batch pending comparison rather than blending it into production. Use testing and certification support to agree the document review and batch checks.
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 aluminium pigment paste from China?
The supplied tariff reading shows 0% for 3212 90 00 00, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension.
Does solvent-based aluminium paste need UK REACH registration?
Check each constituent substance. Confirm with HSE the UK REACH registration arrangements for your annual imports, including whether coverage by the manufacturer's UK only representative is available.
Should I buy leafing or non-leafing aluminium paste?
Specify the behaviour your coating needs and trial the grade in your actual resin and solvent system. Compare the finished coating with an approved reference sample.
How do I check aluminium paste before accepting a batch?
Check composition documents, settling and redistribution, coarse particles, container seals and batch identity, then run a coating trial against the approved sample.