Sourcing Tantalum Pentoxide from China
Tantalum pentoxide from China carries 4% UK duty, with no suspension or trade remedy in the supplied tariff record. Great Britain importers must settle their UK REACH registration route where required and meet chemical classification and labelling duties. Cambridge China Bridge sources tantalum pentoxide.
Tantalum pentoxide duty and chemical controls
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 2825 covers inorganic bases and metal oxides, hydroxides and peroxides, alongside hydrazine and hydroxylamine and their inorganic salts. Tantalum pentoxide falls within the residual line 2825 90 85 90, carrying 4% duty for goods from China. The supplied record lists no suspension, anti-dumping or countervailing duty for this line. The table shows buying specifications sharing this code, rather than separate tariff subdivisions.
The tariff attaches waste import and export controls. Ask your customs broker whether your consignment falls within them, particularly for recovered material or residues. For waste entering England under notification controls, shipment from China can start only after consent from the Environment Agency and the other competent authorities involved. Confirm the applicable requirements with your broker before dispatch.
Confirm the composition and physical form against the commodity code guidance. Do not automatically use the powder code for mixtures or fabricated components. See the niobium pentoxide guide for related coverage within the heading, and UK import duty and VAT for the calculation method.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tantalum pentoxide powder for ceramic processing | 2825 90 85 90 | 4% | None |
Specify tantalum assay and niobium impurities
State the intended process and specify tantalum pentoxide assay, the reporting basis, and separate impurity limits for niobium, iron, sodium, potassium and chloride. Ask whether the quoted purity excludes moisture or selected impurities. Agree analytical methods and reporting limits so that a certificate cannot conceal an unsuitable impurity behind a broad purity claim.
Specify particle size distribution, agglomeration, moisture, loss on ignition and the required powder form. Agree sealed inner packaging and a batch certificate of analysis. Evaluate a retained sample in your own glass, ceramic or electronic-material process before accepting production stock.
For Great Britain, confirm UK REACH registration requirements and any coverage by an appointed only representative with HSE. Registration is per substance, per legal entity. Chemical classification and labelling must be carried out by someone with scientific competence; confirm the applicable GB CLP classification, labelling and packaging requirements with HSE. Request an English safety data sheet and confirm whether its supply is required.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 20 kilograms of tantalum pentoxide powder under 2825 90 85 90, invoiced at £6,000 free on board, with £2,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £8,000. Duty at 4% is £320. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £8,320, so it is £1,664. Import taxes total £1,984; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £320 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Identity: match the powder description, batch numbers and producer details across the order, containers and certificate of analysis.
Chemistry: independently sample the delivered batch for assay and agreed impurities, especially niobium; compare results on the same reporting basis.
Powder: check particle size, hard agglomerates, moisture and foreign particles against the approved sample and written specification.
Packing: inspect inner seals, damaged containers, net contents and batch labels; retain a traceable sample. Plan checks using the quality inspection guide.
Working out your own order? Send us the product on WhatsApp and we reply the same working day: WhatsApp us
What goes wrong
A purity figure alone can hide excessive niobium or another process-critical impurity. Results also become difficult to compare when the supplier reports on a dry basis but the buyer tests material as received. Require the complete agreed impurity panel and reporting basis for each batch.
A sample can disperse well while delivered powder contains hard agglomerates or contamination from milling and packing. Keep the approved sample, document arrival condition and hold questionable stock pending testing. Use factory verification to examine batch traceability and the producer’s laboratory records.
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 tantalum pentoxide from China?
The supplied tariff record gives 4% under 2825 90 85 90, with no suspension, anti-dumping or countervailing duty. Confirm that the shipment is tantalum pentoxide powder and that this code fits its composition.
Do I need UK REACH registration for tantalum pentoxide?
For Great Britain, confirm with HSE whether registration or coverage by an appointed only representative is needed for the substance. Assess annual imports, rather than the size of an individual order.
Which impurities should I specify in tantalum pentoxide?
Set limits for niobium and other impurities relevant to your process, including iron, sodium, potassium and chloride. Agree test methods and reporting limits instead of relying solely on total purity.
Is a supplier’s certificate of analysis enough?
Use it to trace the batch, then verify the agreed chemistry and powder properties independently. Match the tested batch to the delivered containers and trial the powder in your intended process.