Sourcing wolframite concentrate from China

Duty on wolframite concentrate

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, heading 2611 covers tungsten ores and concentrates. Wolframite concentrate falls within the supplied line 2611 00 00 00. The table shows purchasing forms under that same line, rather than separate tariff subdivisions. See the tungsten ores guide for the wider heading.

The supplied record shows 0% duty for goods from China, no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspensions. It attaches waste import and export controls. Waste shipment controls apply where the material is waste. For imports into England under notification controls, the exporter must apply for consent to the dispatch-country authority and follow its procedures; ask your customs broker or the Environment Agency to confirm which authorities' consent is needed before shipment.

Give your broker the mineral description, processing history and evidence of waste status to confirm the commodity code and applicable controls before dispatch. Ask the broker to confirm any waste export requirements if the material will subsequently leave the UK.

Specify dry-basis tungsten content

Specify wolframite concentrate, its source and beneficiation process, and the receiving processor's intended use. Agree tungsten content on a dry basis and state whether the assay reports elemental tungsten or tungsten trioxide equivalent. Set contractual limits for moisture, particle size and impurities such as arsenic, sulphur, phosphorus and tin. Have the processor approve the specification before ordering.

Agree representative lot sampling, independent laboratory analysis, sealed retained samples and how disputed assays affect settlement. Specify bag liners, closures and batch identification. Before importing a substance you have not imported previously, consider whether UK REACH registration is required. Ask HSE to check the position using the producer's processing history.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative trial consignment of bagged wolframite concentrate for a specialist processor under 2611 00 00 00, invoiced at £40,000 free on board, with £6,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £46,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £46,000, so it is £9,200. 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

Identity: match wolframite mineral identification, source, processing records and lot references to the order.

Assay: sample across the consignment and compare dry-basis tungsten content and agreed impurities with the processor's specification.

Moisture: check moisture, particle size, wet pockets and caking; reconcile delivered weight with the agreed dry-weight settlement.

Packing: inspect seams, liners, closures, leakage and lot marks on arrival. Arrange representative checks using the quality inspection guide.

What goes wrong

A selected sample can overstate the shipment's tungsten content. Confusing elemental tungsten with tungsten trioxide equivalent can distort the agreed grade. Moisture inflates wet weight, while uneven blending can conceal impurity pockets. Use an agreed assay basis and representative sampling before accepting the lot.

Recovered processing residue sold as concentrate can leave waste status unresolved. Establish that status before booking transport and confirm the applicable procedure with your broker. For notified waste imported into England, ask the Environment Agency to confirm any carrier, broker or dealer registration needed by the importer and any permit or exemption needed by the recovery facility for the treatment.

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.