Sourcing tellurium ingots from China

Tellurium duty and the purity suspension

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 October 2026, tellurium falls under 2804 50 90 00 within heading 2804, covering hydrogen, rare gases and other non-metals. The ordinary duty for Chinese-origin tellurium is 2%, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty recorded. The table shows purity variants of the same commodity line.

The recorded suspension is 0.00 % for tellurium of 99.99% or more, but not more than 99.999%, purity by weight, based on metallic impurities measured by ICP analysis. It excludes mixtures, preparations and products made up of different components. The tariff also attaches import and export waste controls. Waste shipment controls apply only to waste; for any consignment from China whose waste status is unclear, confirm the applicable requirement with your customs broker.

Confirm the commodity code against the material supplied and the batch analysis before claiming the suspension. A higher purity does not automatically qualify. See industrial gases and silicon for the wider heading.

Specify tellurium purity and ingot form

Specify elemental tellurium rather than an alloy or compound, the purity calculation, individual metallic impurity limits and the analytical method. Agree ingot dimensions, individual weight tolerance, acceptable surface condition and how much broken material is acceptable. Ask for a batch certificate showing actual results rather than a generic grade declaration.

Ask the supplier to explain its UK REACH registration position. Confirm with HSE whether your imports require registration coverage; registration is per substance and legal entity. Before supplying ingots in Great Britain, ensure the chemicals are correctly labelled and packaged. Request the safety data sheet to plan handling and storage.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 25 kg of tellurium ingots below the suspension purity range under 2804 50 90 00, invoiced at £2,000 free on board, with £300 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £2,300. Duty at 2% is £46. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £2,346, so it is £469.20. Import taxes total £515.20; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £46 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Analysis: match the certificate to the shipped batch and obtain independent metallic impurity analysis against the agreed specification.

Form: check ingot dimensions, weights, surface contamination and broken pieces against the purchase order.

Packing: check sealed inner packaging, separation between ingots and evidence of damage or moisture.

Traceability: match package batch marks, the packing list and certificates. Include these checks in the inspection brief.

What goes wrong

A purity label can conceal a different calculation basis or omit impurities relevant to the buyer's process. A generic certificate may cover a sample rather than the shipped batch. Require the laboratory results and batch identity before accepting the material or budgeting for the suspension.

Unprotected ingots can arrive chipped, with loose fragments or contaminated surfaces. Agree packaging and acceptance criteria before dispatch, then keep damaged packages and affected batches separate while the supplier investigates.

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.