Technical and laboratory ceramics from China
Ceramic wares for laboratory, chemical and technical uses from China, including alumina and zirconia wear parts, crucibles and lab porcelain, pay 4% UK duty with no anti-dumping duty; listed items such as silicon nitride balls and catalyst supports are 0% until 2028. Cambridge China Bridge sources technical ceramics.
Alumina and zirconia wear parts, grinding balls, crucibles, lab porcelain and catalyst supports from China pay 4% UK duty, some lines 0%. Worked example.
4% duty and the suspended lines
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 27 September 2026, ceramic wares for laboratory, chemical or other technical uses, ceramic troughs and similar receptacles for agriculture, and ceramic pots and jars for conveying or packing goods, heading 6909, carried 4% on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure.
Several lines are specific products suspended to 0% until 31 December 2028: silicon nitride rollers or balls (6909 19 00 20), ceramic proppants (6909 19 00 25), porous cordierite or mullite catalyst supports (6909 19 00 30) and certain other catalyst and filter supports and continuous-filament ceramic articles. Spherical alumina balls with over 90% aluminium oxide are suspended under 6909 12 00 00 until 31 December 2026. Confirm the commodity code and whether your product matches the suspension description.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Of porcelain or china (such as lab porcelain) | 6909 11 00 00 | 4% | None |
| Articles of hardness 9 or more on the Mohs scale (alumina, zirconia) | 6909 12 00 00 | 4%; listed alumina balls 0% to 31 Dec 2026 | None |
| Silicon nitride rollers or balls | 6909 19 00 20 | 4%, suspended to 0% until 31 Dec 2028 | None |
| Supports for catalysts of porous cordierite or mullite | 6909 19 00 30 | 4%, suspended to 0% until 31 Dec 2028 | None |
| Other technical ceramics | 6909 19 00 90 | 4% | None |
| Other (troughs, pots and jars for goods) | 6909 90 00 00 | 4% | None |
Material evidence
Technical ceramics are bought on material properties, so ask for the material data sheet and batch test results for composition, density, hardness and fracture toughness, measured by the methods named in the contract. Ceramics that touch food or drink are covered by the food contact rules instead, and those are not in this heading.
Laboratory and technical glass is covered in our quartz and other glass articles guide and grinding wheels in our grinding wheels guide.
Specifying ceramics
Specify material and purity (for example 92%, 95% or 99% alumina, zirconia toughened alumina, silicon carbide, silicon nitride), dimensions and tolerances, surface finish, density, hardness, maximum service temperature, chemical resistance, and packing to prevent chipping.
Worked duty example
An invented example rather than a quote: 2 tonnes of alumina grinding balls and wear liners, commodity code 6909 12 00 00, bought for £16,000 free on board, with £1,500 of freight and insurance, so £17,500 is the value customs works from. Duty at the 4% rate for technical ceramics is £700. VAT at 20% applies to £18,200, so £3,640. A VAT-registered buyer usually recovers the VAT, so the border adds £700 to the landed cost. See calculating UK import duty and VAT for the method.
Inspection checklist
Material: check batch results for composition, density and hardness against the data sheet, and cross-check a sample by an independent laboratory for a first order.
Dimensions and flaws: measure sampled parts against the drawing, and check for cracks, chips and porosity, using dye penetrant on critical wear parts.
Packing: check parts are separated and cushioned in cartons or crates so they arrive without chips, and check labels and batch numbers.
What goes wrong
Technical ceramics fail on purity, density and flaws. Alumina content is lower than stated, density or hardness varies between batches so parts wear fast, hidden cracks cause breakage in service, and parts chip in transit.
Test material properties by batch, inspect for cracks, and check packing. See our quality inspection guide.
Cambridge China Bridge sources alumina, zirconia and silicon carbide parts and laboratory ceramics for UK manufacturers and distributors, checking the kiln and testing capability before an order. See factory verification.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on alumina ceramic parts from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 27 September 2026, ceramic articles with a hardness of 9 or more on the Mohs scale (6909 12 00 00) carried 4% from China.
Which technical ceramics are duty-free?
Listed lines such as silicon nitride rollers and balls, proppants and some catalyst supports are suspended to 0% until 31 December 2028.
Are ceramic food containers in this heading?
No. Ceramic tableware and kitchenware are classified under other headings and fall under the food contact rules.
Is there anti-dumping duty?
No line of heading 6909 had a UK anti-dumping measure on 27 September 2026.