Sourcing white fused alumina grit from China
White fused alumina grit from China carries 0% to 4% UK duty, with no anti-dumping duty recorded. The 0% suspension depends on the commodity code and aluminium oxide content above 98.5%, rather than the trade name. Check grain distribution and UK REACH coverage before ordering. Cambridge China Bridge sources white fused alumina grit.
White fused alumina grit duty and classification
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 2818 covers artificial corundum, other aluminium oxide and aluminium hydroxide. This guide concerns white fused alumina grit. The table includes the relevant grit lines and the coarse-grain and lower-purity classification boundaries. For other products, see the wider heading guide.
The recorded duty for goods from China is 4%, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty recorded. Codes 2818 10 11 91 and 2818 10 11 99 have a conditional 0% suspension for applicable artificial corundum above 98.5% aluminium oxide by weight. The published wider guide gives its expiry as 30 June 2027. Ask your broker to check all suspension footnotes, including mixture status, before claiming relief.
The tariff attaches import and export waste controls to these lines. For grit from China, ask your customs broker to confirm whether waste controls apply and which procedure is needed. Where notification controls apply to an import into England, the exporter applies to the competent authority in China for consent. Confirm the commodity code using the assay and grain distribution, rather than the name on the invoice.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fused grit, alumina ≥98.5%, with tariff-defined fines and oversize | 2818 10 11 91 | 4% | None |
| Other corundum grit, alumina ≥98.5%, less than 50% by weight over 10 mm | 2818 10 11 99 | 4% | None |
| Coarse corundum boundary: alumina ≥98.5%, ≥50% by weight over 10 mm | 2818 10 19 00 | 4% | None |
| Lower-purity boundary: other corundum grit below 98.5% alumina | 2818 10 91 99 | 4% | None |
Specify chemistry and the full grit distribution
State the intended use: blasting, bonded abrasives or refractory mixes. Specify aluminium oxide and sodium oxide content, magnetic material, moisture and the complete grain distribution. Agree the sizing method and permitted fines and oversize, rather than accepting a grit designation alone. Refractory buyers should also specify bulk density and grain fractions.
For 2818 10 11 91, the tariff description requires both 5% to 35% by weight below the specified lower grain limit and 1% to 10% above the upper limit. Do not select this line merely because some fines are present. Require a batch certificate and retain a sample for comparison with delivery.
Check UK REACH registration coverage, including your annual substance import volume. Before selling in Great Britain, ensure the grit is correctly labelled and packaged for chemical supply. Ask for the safety data sheet and compare it with the actual product and bag information.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative one-tonne pallet of bagged white fused alumina grit; suspension eligibility to be confirmed under 2818 10 11 99, invoiced at £2,000 free on board, with £350 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £2,350. Duty at 4% is £94. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £2,444, so it is £488.80. Import taxes total £582.80; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £94 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Chemistry: sample across bags and check aluminium oxide, sodium oxide and magnetic material against the agreed limits and batch certificate.
Sizing: sieve abrasive grains or use the agreed fine-powder method; record the distribution, fines and oversize against the purchase specification.
Packing: inspect liners, seams and closures for tears, moisture and caking; check bag weights and readable batch marks on arrival.
Traceability: match bags, retained samples and certificates to the same lot. Include these checks in the inspection brief.
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What goes wrong
A matching grit name can conceal a different distribution. Excess fines or oversize can change the finish or abrasive performance. Sodium oxide or magnetic contamination can fall outside the agreed grade, while moisture causes caking and makes handling inconsistent.
A white appearance does not prove the aluminium oxide content needed for the suspension. Compare independent batch results with the declaration evidence before shipment. Keep questionable bags separate on arrival and agree how the supplier will resolve a failed assay or sizing result.
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 white fused alumina grit from China?
The recorded base duty is 4%. Applicable grit under 2818 10 11 91 or 2818 10 11 99 can qualify for a 0% suspension above 98.5% aluminium oxide by weight. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty is recorded.
Does white fused alumina grit need UK REACH checks?
Yes. Check registration coverage and annual substance import volume before ordering. Confirm the applicable UK REACH registration threshold with HSE.
What should I put in a white fused alumina grit specification?
Specify aluminium oxide, sodium oxide, magnetic material, moisture, grain distribution, test methods and permitted fines and oversize. Add bulk density and grain fractions for refractory use.
Does the waste control mean white fused alumina grit is banned?
The tariff attaches a waste control; that entry alone does not establish a ban on your grit. Ask your broker to confirm its waste status and the procedure required before shipping from China.