Sourcing titanium sponge from China
Titanium sponge from China has a 4% standard UK duty, with a 0% suspension for qualifying goods. Confirm the sponge code and suspension conditions, and assess UK REACH registration before importing. Specify batch chemistry, particle size and traceable analysis reports. Cambridge China Bridge sources titanium sponge.
Titanium sponge duty and suspension
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, titanium sponge under 8108 20 00 10 carried 4% standard duty for goods from China, with a 0% autonomous tariff suspension. The suspension excludes mixtures, preparations and products containing different components. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty is recorded for this line in the supplied tariff facts.
Heading 8108 covers titanium and titanium articles, including waste and scrap. The table includes adjacent forms for classification comparison; they are not alternative sponge codes. The tariff attaches import and export waste controls to the sponge line. Waste shipment controls apply only to waste material. For a shipment from China, ask your customs broker to confirm the applicable waste requirements with the relevant authority before dispatch.
Confirm the commodity code using the material's composition, physical form and waste status, and have your broker verify eligibility for the suspension. See the wider titanium guide for other forms and UK import duty and VAT for the calculation method.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Titanium sponge | 8108 20 00 10 | 4% | None |
| Fine titanium powder meeting the tariff description, for comparison | 8108 20 00 30 | 4% | None |
| Other unwrought titanium and powders, for comparison | 8108 20 00 90 | 4% | None |
| Titanium scrap, excluding specified aluminium-bearing alloys, for comparison | 8108 30 00 10 | 4% | None |
Specify sponge chemistry and particle size
Write the intended melting process and the receiving customer's acceptance specification into the order. Agree titanium content, limits for oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, carbon and iron, and residual magnesium and chloride. Define the particle-size distribution, allowable fines, sampling method and acceptance tests. Request a batch analysis report tied to the actual drums, rather than a general purity statement.
Before a first import into Great Britain, consider whether the substance requires UK REACH registration. Chemical classification is the supplier's responsibility, including the importer. Obtain classification information for the supplied sponge and fines, and agree handling and packing with the carrier using that information.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 200 kg of titanium sponge; order quantity, FOB value and freight are illustrative under 8108 20 00 10, invoiced at £3,600 free on board, with £800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £4,400. Duty at 4% is £176. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £4,576, so it is £915.20. Import taxes total £1,091.20; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £176 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Chemistry: compare independent analysis of representative batch samples with the agreed impurity limits and the supplier's report.
Particle size: check the sieve distribution and fines against the order; photographs of selected lumps do not establish the distribution.
Batch identity: match drum labels, packing records and analysis reports; retain identified samples for investigating later melting problems.
Packing and weight: inspect seals, liners and drum condition, check net weight, and record moisture, loose fines or visible foreign material. Agree the inspection scope before shipment.
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What goes wrong
A headline purity figure can hide excessive oxygen or residual process chemicals. Mixed batches may arrive with a report covering only the supplier's selected sample. Excess fines, damaged liners and foreign metal fragments can make a delivery unsuitable for the buyer's melting process.
Agree representative sampling and a hold-and-release procedure before ordering. Keep suspect drums separate until the batch identity and analysis are resolved. Do not accept a powder, scrap or mixed-material declaration simply because the supplier calls the goods sponge.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on titanium sponge from China?
The supplied tariff facts show 4% standard duty for 8108 20 00 10 and a 0% autonomous suspension for qualifying sponge. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty is recorded. Confirm suspension eligibility before declaring.
Does titanium sponge need UK REACH registration?
For a first import into Great Britain, assess whether the substance requires registration under UK REACH. Settle your registration position before ordering; a supplier's analysis report does not answer that question.
What analysis should I request for titanium sponge?
Request batch-specific titanium content and impurity results, including oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, carbon, iron, magnesium and chloride. Agree limits and representative sampling with the receiving customer.
Is titanium sponge the same as titanium powder?
The tariff lists sponge and specified fine powder separately. Describe the actual physical form and particle-size distribution to your broker rather than relying on the supplier's sales description.