Sourcing supported ruthenium catalysts from China
Supported ruthenium catalysts from China normally carry 6% UK duty. The relevant precious-metal line also lists conditional 0% reliefs, which should not be assumed to cover ruthenium. Correct labelling and packaging are required before market supply. Cambridge China Bridge sources supported ruthenium catalysts.
UK duty on supported ruthenium catalysts
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, heading 3815 covers reaction initiators, reaction accelerators and catalytic preparations not elsewhere specified or included. Supported catalysts with precious metals as the active substance have their own branch. Code 3815 12 00 90 is the relevant starting point for supported ruthenium preparations. The table shows product variants within this same commodity line.
The supplied tariff record gives 6% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measure recorded. It lists conditional 0% suspensions, including relief under authorised use. The supplied suspension descriptions are incomplete and do not establish eligibility for a ruthenium product. Budget for 6% unless the full description and conditions have been checked. The tariff also attaches import and export waste controls; confirm their application with your customs broker.
Confirm the commodity code using the active substance, carrier, formulation and intended function. See the supported palladium catalysts guide for the wider precious-metal catalyst category. Keep new catalyst purchases separate from spent material intended for metal recovery: for imports into England under waste notification controls, consent from the Environment Agency and the other competent authorities involved is needed before shipment.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supported ruthenium catalyst on carbon | 3815 12 00 90 | 6% | None |
Specify ruthenium loading and carrier condition
Specify the ruthenium content and whether it is measured on a dry or as-supplied basis. Name the carrier, metal or compound form, moisture or wetting medium, particle form, size distribution, surface area and pore volume. Agree impurity limits, the assay method and an activity test under your process conditions. State whether the material must be fresh or may be regenerated.
Ask for the safety data sheet and agree storage and handling conditions for the actual formulation. Before market supply, substances and mixtures must be correctly labelled and packaged. Ask HSE to confirm UK REACH registration requirements for your annual substance imports; registration is assessed per substance and legal entity. Include carrier and formulation substances in your review. Use factory verification to check the manufacturer's assay and batch-control capability.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 5 kg of supported ruthenium catalyst on carbon; values are illustrative under 3815 12 00 90, invoiced at £2,500 free on board, with £600 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £3,100. Duty at 6% is £186. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £3,286, so it is £657.20. Import taxes total £843.20; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £186 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Assay: compare an independently tested batch sample with the agreed ruthenium content, moisture basis and certificate of analysis.
Carrier: check particle size, fines, surface area and pore volume; for pellets, compare crush strength and attrition with the specification.
Activity: run the agreed process trial against the approved sample, checking conversion, selectivity and consistency.
Arrival: check container seals, leakage, batch identity, wetting condition, labels and safety data sheet against the order. Retain a traceable sample; see quality inspection.
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What goes wrong
An assay can appear satisfactory while the batch performs poorly because the carrier, metal distribution or impurity profile differs from the approved sample. Moisture also changes the comparison between dry-basis loading and the quantity actually supplied. Broken pellets or excess fines can make a nominally matching catalyst unsuitable for the buyer's reactor.
Disputes arise when regenerated material is supplied as fresh, batch certificates do not identify the delivered lot, or the buyer assumes another precious-metal catalyst's suspension applies to ruthenium. Agree sampling, independent assay and acceptance criteria before ordering, and check relief eligibility separately from chemical performance.
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 supported ruthenium catalysts from China?
The supplied tariff record gives 6% for 3815 12 00 90. Conditional 0% suspensions exist within the line, but the supplied descriptions do not establish relief for ruthenium.
Does a small catalyst order avoid chemical supply responsibilities?
Correct labelling and packaging are required before market supply. Separately, ask HSE to confirm UK REACH registration requirements for your annual substance imports.
How should I check ruthenium loading?
Agree an assay method and dry or as-supplied basis. Compare an independently tested batch sample with the certificate, then test activity under your process conditions.
Can I import spent ruthenium catalyst for recovery?
Confirm the waste controls with your broker. For imports into England under notification controls, shipment must wait for consent from the Environment Agency and the other competent authorities involved.