Sourcing tin granules from China

UK duty on tin granules

Heading 8001 covers unwrought tin. This guide concerns tin granules supplied as unwrought metal: non-alloyed tin under 8001 10 00 00 and tin alloys under 8001 20 00 00. The table repeats these codes for particle-size variants; they are not separate tariff lines. For the wider product family, see our tin ingots and solder wire guide.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 7 October 2026, both lines carry 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff snapshot lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspensions or attached import controls for either line.

Confirm the composition and physical form against the commodity code guide, particularly where a supplier describes the material as powder, scrap or a prepared solder product.

Specify tin purity and granule size

Specify non-alloyed tin or the intended alloy composition, tin purity, permitted impurities, particle-size distribution and acceptable fines. Agree the granule shape, surface condition, net pack weight and batch identification. Request a batch-specific certificate of analysis and keep an approved sample for comparison.

For Great Britain, substances and mixtures placed on the market must be classified and labelled in line with GB CLP. Classification applies regardless of the quantity supplied. If importing a substance you have not previously imported or manufactured, consider whether it requires UK REACH registration before ordering.

Ask for the supplier's chemical identity and classification information for the actual grade, including alloy constituents. Treat composition testing, particle-size testing and a trial in your own process as separate purchasing checks.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 3 tonnes of non-alloyed tin granules, illustrative under 8001 10 00 00, invoiced at £108,000 free on board, with £1,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £109,500. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £109,500, so it is £21,900. With no duty, the only import tax is the VAT, which a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Composition: match each batch certificate to the delivered lot and independently test tin content and agreed impurities.

Size: sieve a representative sample against the agreed distribution; check fines, oversized pieces and fused clumps.

Condition: inspect for surface contamination, excessive oxidation, foreign particles and moisture inside the packaging.

Packing: check seals, net weight and batch labels; confirm that containers retain the smallest granules without leakage.

What goes wrong

An overall tin purity result can hide excessive individual impurities. A nominal granule size can hide a broad distribution or excessive fines. These differences can change feeding and melting behaviour. Set separate acceptance criteria for composition, size and surface condition rather than approving appearance alone.

Certificates may describe a different lot, while damaged liners allow leakage or contamination during transit. Match documents to pack labels and retain samples from the shipment. Agree sampling and rejection criteria through our quality inspection guide.

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.