Sourcing terbium metal from China

Terbium duty and classification

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 4 October 2026, heading 2805 includes rare-earth metals such as terbium, whether separated, intermixed or interalloyed. Terbium of at least 95% purity by weight falls under 2805 30 31 20: the China duty is 2%, with an autonomous suspension to 0%. The supplied reference guide records the suspension running to 31 December 2028. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty is listed for the selected lines.

Other separated terbium under 2805 30 80 00 carries 2%, without a listed suspension. Relevant rare-earth intermixtures and interalloys carry 4%. The terbium suspension excludes mixtures, preparations and products containing different components. The table includes blend comparison lines; confirm the full composition before choosing one. See the wider rare-earth metals guide.

The tariff attaches import and export waste controls to these lines. Waste shipment controls apply when the material is waste; ask your customs broker to confirm the attached controls for the proposed shipment, including any return shipment. Establish whether the order is new metal or waste before dispatch. Confirm the commodity code using the assay and product description.

Specify terbium purity and sealed packing

Specify terbium content by total product weight as well as its share of total rare-earth content. Name limits for neighbouring rare earths, iron, oxygen, nitrogen and carbon, with agreed test methods. State whether you need ingots, pieces or powder, the size range and acceptable surface condition. Agree argon-sealed or vacuum-sealed packing and a certificate of analysis tied to each batch.

For Great Britain, review UK REACH registration before annual imports of the substance reach 1 tonne. Classification and labelling must be handled by someone with scientific competence, and the supply chain is responsible for correct labelling and packaging before market placement. Obtain the supplier's safety data sheet for review alongside the actual form and composition.

If the order is waste from China entering England under notification controls, the exporter must seek consent through the dispatch country's competent authority. Shipment can start after consent from the Environment Agency and the other competent authorities involved. Confirm the applicable procedure before accepting scrap or residues as a substitute for new terbium metal.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 25 kg of lower-purity separated terbium metal for an alloying trial; illustrative order and values under 2805 30 80 00, invoiced at £30,000 free on board, with £1,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £31,200. Duty at 2% is £624. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £31,824, so it is £6,364.80. Import taxes total £6,988.80; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £624 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Identity: match the batch markings, purchase specification and analysis certificate; confirm the goods are terbium metal rather than an oxide or an undeclared blend.

Assay: independently sample each lot for terbium and trace rare earths, then check oxygen, nitrogen, carbon and iron against the agreed limits.

Packing: check seals, evidence of moisture, surface oxidation and the agreed inert-gas or vacuum packing; record damaged containers before opening.

Form and documents: check piece size or powder grading, net weight and batch traceability; compare labels with the reviewed classification. Plan these checks through quality inspection.

What goes wrong

A certificate can show high total rare-earth content while concealing too much dysprosium or gadolinium relative to terbium. Poor seals allow oxidation, and a clean dispatch sample may not represent the delivered lot. A rare-earth blend declared as separated terbium can also undermine the suspension claim.

Agree independent sampling and rejection criteria before payment. Keep each lot separate until its assay and packing checks are accepted. If the supplier changes the form, composition or waste status, review classification and shipping documents before release.

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.