Sourcing titanium oxides from China

0% duty, with a registration

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 27 September 2026, heading 2823 covers titanium oxides. Its lines are split by use, other than or for the production of white graphic inks for printing, and within each by a listed high-purity titanium dioxide, other titanium dioxides of at least 80% TiO2 on the dry matter, and other titanium oxides. All 6 lines carried 0% on goods from China, with no tariff suspension.

The four titanium dioxide lines, the listed high-purity grade and other titanium dioxides of at least 80% TiO2 for each use, carry a registration measure from 27 March 2026 for the specified rutile titanium dioxide from China; the two lines for other titanium oxides do not. Importers declare additional code 8A60 for the rutile titanium dioxide covered by the notice and 8A61 for excluded products. Registration means that, if a definitive anti-dumping remedy is implemented, duty may be applied retroactively to eligible registered imports, so build that risk into contracts.

Titanium dioxide pigments and preparations are covered in our pigments and titanium dioxide guide; confirm the commodity code from the product's TiO2 content and form.

Chemical and food rules

Importers of one tonne or more a year need a UK REACH position, any required safety data sheet follows UK REACH, and classification and any labelling follow the retained CLP Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008; ask the supplier how the powder is classified for inhalation.

Food-grade titanium dioxide (E 171) must meet the specification on the FSA register of authorised food additives, so check its current status and conditions of use for your product before ordering.

Specifying titanium dioxide

Specify crystal form (rutile or anatase), process (chloride or sulphate), TiO2 content, surface treatment (alumina, silica, zirconia, organic), particle size and oil absorption, brightness and tint strength against a reference, dispersibility in your system, and bag or bulk packing. For iron oxide pigments, see our iron oxide pigment sourcing guide. For silica procurement, see our silica sourcing guide.

Worked duty example

Take a hypothetical order of 20 tonnes of rutile titanium dioxide in 25 kg bags, entered under 2823 00 00 30: £44,000 free on board plus £2,200 of freight and insurance gives a customs value of £46,200. Titanium dioxide carry no duty, so import VAT of 20% on £46,200, £9,240, is the only tax. A VAT-registered importer normally reclaims it, so the border adds no lasting cost. Because rutile titanium dioxide from China has been registered since 27 March 2026, any anti-dumping duty imposed at the end of the investigation could be collected on imports made after that date. Step by step: UK import duty and VAT.

Inspection checklist

Grade: check TiO2 content, crystal form and surface treatment on the certificate of analysis, and compare brightness and tint strength with the approved reference in your own test.

Performance: run dispersion and gloss tests in your paint, plastic or ink system on each new lot.

Documents: keep the exporter's details and the declared additional code with each entry because of the registration. Retain the exporter's details and additional code when preparing UK customs clearance for titanium dioxide.

What goes wrong

Titanium dioxide orders fail on grade, consistency and trade remedy exposure. Anatase or lower-grade material is supplied as rutile, tint strength varies between lots, dispersion is poor in the customer's system, and buyers ignore the registration and later face retroactive duty.

Test each lot and price in the registration risk. See our quality inspection guide.

Cambridge China Bridge sources titanium dioxide for UK paint, plastics and ink makers, checking the producer's grade and process first. See factory verification.