Sourcing urea-ammonium phosphate from China
Urea-ammonium phosphate fertiliser from China normally carries 6% UK duty; high-ammonium-nitrate variants can carry 6.50%. For sale in Great Britain, the fertiliser type and declared nutrients must meet the applicable fertiliser rules. Cambridge China Bridge sources urea-ammonium phosphate fertiliser.
6% for ordinary urea-ammonium phosphate mixtures
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 3105 covers compound mineral or chemical fertilisers and other specified fertilisers. For urea-ammonium phosphate containing nitrogen and phosphorus without nitrates, 3105 59 00 90 is a candidate code at 6% duty from China. The table also shows small packs, nitrate-containing variants and potassium-added formulations; these are alternatives requiring a composition check.
All the selected lines carry 6%. Separate solid fertiliser lines with ammonium nitrate exceeding 80% carry 6.50%. The supplied snapshot lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension for these lines. It attaches Veterinary control to 3105 10 00 90. For small packs from China, confirm the requirement for the actual ingredients with your customs broker before shipment.
Confirm the commodity code using the complete formulation, nitrate content and gross pack weight. A supplier's trade name alone is insufficient for choosing a line. See the wider urea phosphate fertiliser guide for related products.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other nitrogen-phosphorus fertiliser, without nitrates | 3105 59 00 90 | 6% | None |
| Other fertiliser in packs of gross weight not exceeding 10 kg | 3105 10 00 90 | 6% | None |
| Other nitrogen-phosphorus fertiliser containing nitrates and phosphates | 3105 51 00 90 | 6% | None |
| Other nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium fertiliser, nitrogen exceeding 10% | 3105 20 10 90 | 6% | None |
Specify the nitrogen forms and phosphate solubility
Ask the factory to identify whether the product is a compound granule or a physical blend of urea and ammonium phosphates. Agree total nitrogen, urea nitrogen, ammoniacal nitrogen, total phosphate and water-soluble phosphate. Specify biuret, moisture, particle size, dust and caking acceptance criteria. For a soluble grade, agree a dissolution test and an insoluble-residue criterion using your intended application water.
For Great Britain sales, confirm the applicable fertiliser type and nutrient declarations with the relevant authority before approving bag artwork; translating the Chinese label alone is insufficient. Fertilisers can no longer be placed on the UK market as ‘EC fertilisers’. Importers must also ensure substances and mixtures are correctly labelled and packaged before placing them on the market.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 25 tonnes of urea-ammonium phosphate fertiliser in 25 kg bags under 3105 59 00 90, invoiced at £9,000 free on board, with £2,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £11,500. Duty at 6% is £690. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £12,190, so it is £2,438. Import taxes total £3,128; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £690 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Identity: compare the production formula, batch analysis and bag description. Confirm whether nitrate or potassium ingredients have been added.
Nutrients: independently sample the shipment and test nitrogen forms, phosphate solubility, biuret and moisture against the agreed specification. Link laboratory results to the dispatched batch.
Physical condition: check granule size, dust, crushing resistance and caking. For soluble material, check dissolution and residue against the agreed method.
Packing and arrival: check liners, seams, bag weights and batch marks before loading. On arrival, photograph wet bags, hardened material and damaged pallets before unloading or mixing stock. Use the inspection guide to define the inspection brief.
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What goes wrong
A total-nitrogen result can conceal the wrong balance of urea and ammoniacal nitrogen. A blend can segregate during handling, while a phosphate result may conceal insufficient water-soluble phosphate for the intended use. Moisture can turn acceptable granules into hard lumps. Keep a sealed reference sample and agree how disputed results will be checked before ordering.
Before importing, confirm with HMRC or your customs broker whether this fertiliser family falls within the UK carbon border adjustment mechanism's scope and when any obligations would apply. Ask the factory for production emissions data while agreeing the specification, rather than trying to reconstruct it after shipment.
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 urea-ammonium phosphate from China?
Ordinary nitrogen-phosphorus mixtures under 3105 59 00 90 carry 6%. Separate high-ammonium-nitrate lines carry 6.50%. The supplied snapshot lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty.
Is urea-ammonium phosphate the same as urea phosphate?
Do not assume the names describe the same formulation. Ask for the ingredients and separate urea and ammoniacal nitrogen results, then match the analysis to your intended use.
Can I simply translate the Chinese fertiliser label?
Do not rely on a translated label alone. For Great Britain sales, confirm the applicable fertiliser-type and nutrient-declaration requirements with the relevant authority. Agree the declaration format before the factory prints the bags.
What should I test before accepting a shipment?
Check nitrogen forms, phosphate solubility, biuret, moisture and physical condition against the contract. For soluble grades, include dissolution and insoluble residue in your application water.