Sourcing sulphuric acid from China
Sulphuric acid and oleum from China pay 0% UK duty under the single code 2807 00 00 00, with no anti-dumping duty. Above 15% by weight it is a regulated explosives precursor under the Poisons Act 1972, so a member of the public needs a licence. It is corrosive under GB CLP, and buyers check concentration, impurities and acid-resistant packing.
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0% duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 28 September 2026, heading 2807 covers sulphuric acid and oleum. It is a single code carrying 0% on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure. The tariff also attaches a waste import control, answered by a not-waste declaration.
Sulphuric acid above 15% by weight is a regulated explosives precursor under Part 1 of Schedule 1A to the Poisons Act 1972: a member of the general public needs a licence to import, acquire, possess or use it, and suppliers must report suspicious transactions. Check whether each customer is a business or a member of the public before supplying. This matters for products such as drain cleaners and battery acid sold to consumers.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sulphuric acid; oleum | 2807 00 00 00 | 0% | None |
Hazards and specification
Sulphuric acid and oleum are corrosive under the retained CLP Regulation, so they need GB labels, a GB-format safety data sheet, approved packaging and dangerous goods transport. Oleum also releases toxic fumes, which limits who can handle it.
Specify concentration, grade (technical, battery, electronic or reagent), iron and heavy metal limits, colour, and packing in drums or IBCs rated for the acid. Ask for a certificate of analysis per lot.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 20 IBCs of 98% sulphuric acid under 2807 00 00 00, invoiced at £6,000 free on board, with £4,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £10,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £10,000, so it is £2,000. 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
Analysis: check concentration and impurities against the certificate.
Packing: check UN-marked drums or IBCs, closures and leaks.
Labels: check GB CLP labels and the safety data sheet. See our quality inspection guide.
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What goes wrong
Sulphuric acid orders fail on packing, labels and customer checks. Containers are not rated for the acid, labels miss GB CLP requirements, and product above 15% is sold to the public without checking for a licence.
Cambridge China Bridge sources materials for UK manufacturers with documents agreed before shipment. See factory verification.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on sulphuric acid from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 28 September 2026, sulphuric acid under 2807 00 00 00 carried 0% from China.
Is sulphuric acid a regulated explosives precursor?
Yes, above 15% by weight. A member of the public needs a licence to import, acquire, possess or use it.
Does battery acid count?
Battery acid is sulphuric acid, so strength above 15% brings the precursor rules for sales to the public.
Can sulphuric acid ship by sea from China?
Yes, as dangerous goods in approved packaging, declared and labelled for transport.