Sourcing vanadium carbide powder from China
Vanadium carbide powder from China carries 4% UK duty, with no recorded trade remedy or suspension. Substances placed on the Great Britain market must be classified and labelled under its chemical rules. Specify carbon content, oxygen and particle size before ordering. Cambridge China Bridge sources vanadium carbide powder.
Vanadium carbide powder: 4% duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 2849 covers carbides, whether or not chemically defined. Vanadium carbide powder falls within 2849 90 50 90, carrying 4% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record shows no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. Only this line is relevant to the powder covered here; see the niobium carbide powder guide for wider heading context.
The tariff attaches import waste controls and also lists export waste controls. If the proposed shipment is waste subject to notification controls, the exporter must apply to the competent authority in the dispatch country for consent. For a shipment from China, this means applying there. Ask your customs broker to confirm the applicable waste requirement before shipment, particularly for recovered residues offered as powder.
Confirm the commodity code using the composition and physical form supplied. Do not assume that a binder mixture or finished sintered component uses the powder code. For border-cost calculations, see UK import duty and VAT.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vanadium carbide powder | 2849 90 50 90 | 4% | None |
Specify vanadium carbide chemistry and particle size
Specify vanadium carbide content, total carbon, free carbon, oxygen and named metallic impurities. Agree the analytical methods and require a certificate of analysis tied to the production batch. State whether you want unblended powder, and require disclosure of any binder or processing additive.
Agree the particle-size distribution and measurement method, including sample preparation and how agglomerates are dispersed. An average particle size alone does not define the coarse fraction. Ask for a representative sample and trial it in your intended formulation before approving production.
Before supplying the powder in Great Britain, ensure classification and labelling comply with the applicable chemical classification, labelling and packaging rules, and ensure correct packaging. Confirm with HSE the applicable UK REACH registration requirements and whether an only representative arrangement can cover your imports.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 25 kg of vanadium carbide powder; illustrative order and values under 2849 90 50 90, invoiced at £2,500 free on board, with £1,300 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £3,800. Duty at 4% is £152. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £3,952, so it is £790.40. Import taxes total £942.40; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £152 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Chemistry: compare independent batch results for vanadium, carbon, oxygen and agreed impurities with the purchase specification and certificate.
Particle size: test samples from different containers using the agreed preparation and measurement method; record coarse particles and persistent agglomerates.
Packing: check seals, inner liners, net weights, moisture ingress and escaped powder before moving the lot into production.
Traceability: match container batch identifiers to the certificate, sample records and delivery documents. Use the quality inspection guide to organise the checks.
Working out your own order? Send us the product on WhatsApp and we reply the same working day: WhatsApp us
What goes wrong
A purity statement can conceal differences in free carbon, oxygen or metallic contamination. Particle-size results can also look similar while using different dispersion methods. Treat missing methods, reused certificates and mismatched batch identifiers as reasons to hold acceptance until the supplier resolves them.
Powder that arrives caked or with damaged seals needs investigation before use. Keep an unopened retained sample and compare the delivered batch with the approved sample. Agree acceptance criteria and responsibility for retesting in the purchase specification.
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 vanadium carbide powder from China?
The supplied tariff record gives 4% under 2849 90 50 90, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension.
Does vanadium carbide powder need UK REACH registration?
Before ordering, confirm with HSE the applicable UK REACH registration requirements and whether an only representative arrangement can cover your imports.
What should I specify when buying vanadium carbide powder?
Specify carbide content, total and free carbon, oxygen, metallic impurities, particle-size distribution and test methods. Require batch-specific analysis.
How do I check the powder when it arrives?
Match batch identifiers, inspect seals and liners, and test chemistry and particle size against the agreed specification. Investigate caking or leakage before use.