Sourcing vanadium metal powder from China

Vanadium powder duty and classification

Heading 8112 covers named minor metals and their articles. Vanadium metal powder falls under 8112 92 91 00. The table shows specification variants sharing that tariff line, rather than separate commodity codes. Oxides and compounds are chemicals rather than metal powder.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, vanadium under 8112 92 91 00 carried 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record shows no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control for this line. Import VAT at 20% still applies.

Confirm the commodity code against the composition and physical form before shipment. For the wider heading, see chromium metal powder. Zero customs duty does not remove chemical supply duties: classification is required regardless of quantity, and substances must be correctly labelled and packaged before being placed on the Great Britain market.

Specify the powder, not just the metal

Write the required vanadium purity and separate limits for oxygen, nitrogen, carbon and metallic impurities. Agree whether purity is reported on a metals-only basis or includes non-metallic impurities. Request a batch certificate of analysis that states the test methods and identifies the actual production lot.

Specify particle-size distribution, the measurement method, particle shape and acceptable agglomeration. Where the powder feeds a process, agree a sample trial and any flow or apparent-density checks. Set packing, seal integrity and storage conditions with the supplier, using the product safety information.

Check your UK REACH registration responsibilities before ordering. Registration is assessed per substance and per legal entity. Keep the substance identity consistent across the purchase specification, laboratory report and chemical supply documents.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 200 kg of vanadium metal powder; illustrative order only, not a supplier quotation under 8112 92 91 00, invoiced at £58,000 free on board, with £800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £58,800. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £58,800, so it is £11,760. 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

Chemistry: compare independent sample results with the ordered purity and impurity limits, including oxygen.

Particle size: check the agreed distribution and method, then inspect for lumps or contamination without exposing staff to loose powder.

Traceability: match container batch markings, the certificate of analysis and the retained sample; investigate any mismatch.

Packing and weight: check seals, container damage and net weight against the order, and compare labels with the agreed chemical supply documents.

What goes wrong

A purity headline can hide oxygen or other impurities excluded from the supplier's calculation. Powder can also arrive outside the agreed particle-size distribution, agglomerated or contaminated. A certificate from a different batch gives no assurance about the delivered material.

Agree the acceptance tests before production and retain a sealed reference sample. Hold a disputed lot separately while checking the batch records and independent results. Use testing and certification support to define the laboratory work before committing to a repeat order.

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.