Sourcing yttrium metal from China
Yttrium metal from China carries 0% to 2% UK duty after the applicable suspension; relevant rare-earth intermixtures pay 4%. Composition and purity determine the line. Importers must check UK REACH registration and classify, label and package the material before supplying it in Great Britain. Cambridge China Bridge sources yttrium metal.
Yttrium duty and classification
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 4 October 2026, heading 2805 covers alkali and alkaline-earth metals, rare-earth metals, scandium, yttrium and mercury. This guide concerns yttrium metal. The separated yttrium line 2805 30 39 55 requires purity by weight of 95% or more. The table also identifies lower-purity metal and relevant intermixtures; these are different products, not alternative codes for the same batch.
The standard China duty is 2% for separated yttrium. The qualifying high-purity line has a suspension to 0%; lower-purity metal carries 2%. The listed intermixtures carry 4%, without suspension. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty is recorded for these lines. The suspension excludes mixtures, preparations and products made of different components containing the material. Confirm composition through commodity-code checks, and see the wider metals guide.
The tariff attaches import and export waste controls. Waste shipment controls apply only to waste. For a China-to-England consignment under notification controls, the exporter applies to the dispatch authority for consent; shipment starts only after the Environment Agency and other authorities involved consent. Ask your customs broker to confirm the waste classification and applicable requirements before importing scrap or arranging a waste return.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yttrium metal, purity by weight of 95% or more | 2805 30 39 55 | 2% | None |
| Other separated yttrium metal, below 95% purity | 2805 30 80 00 | 2% | None |
| Other rare-earth intermixtures or interalloys, potentially containing yttrium | 2805 30 10 80 | 4% | None |
| Rare-earth intermixtures containing neodymium, potentially also yttrium | 2805 30 10 40 | 4% | None |
Specify yttrium purity and physical form
Specify elemental yttrium rather than yttrium oxide, and state whether you need ingots, pieces or powder. Define purity by total product weight separately from yttrium content relative to all rare-earth metals. Agree limits for neighbouring rare earths, iron, oxygen, nitrogen and carbon, the analytical methods, piece dimensions or particle-size distribution, and a batch certificate of analysis.
Agree sealed packing under argon or vacuum, batch identification and a sampling method that limits air exposure. Ask the supplier to explain its handling and transport classification for the actual form supplied. Treat powder and ingots as separate specifications.
For Great Britain, check the UK REACH registration position when annual imports reach 1 tonne. Importers must classify, label and package chemicals before placing them on the GB market. Hazardous chemicals supplied for workplace use need a safety data sheet. Check these duties alongside the material specification.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 25 kg of separated yttrium metal below 95% purity under 2805 30 80 00, invoiced at £2,000 free on board, with £1,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £3,200. Duty at 2% is £64. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £3,264, so it is £652.80. Import taxes total £716.80; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £64 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Identity: match the certificate, purchase order and container markings to elemental yttrium and the agreed batch.
Analysis: verify yttrium content and trace rare-earth impurities independently; check oxygen, nitrogen and carbon against the agreed limits.
Condition: check seals, packing integrity, surface oxidation, net weight and the agreed piece size or powder distribution.
Documents: compare hazard labels with the classification and safety data sheet; keep the batch analysis with your inspection records.
Working out your own order? Send us the product on WhatsApp and we reply the same working day: WhatsApp us
What goes wrong
A certificate may report yttrium purity relative to rare-earth content while leaving oxygen and other contamination outside that figure. Material can therefore meet the advertised purity yet fail your process specification. Damaged seals, excessive fines and inconsistent piece sizes create further acceptance problems.
An intermixture described simply as yttrium can lead to the wrong tariff line and an unsupported suspension claim. Agree the composition, independent sampling and rejection criteria before shipment. Keep suspect batches separate until their analysis and documentation have been checked.
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 yttrium metal from China?
The standard duty is 2%. Yttrium of at least 95% purity has a suspension to 0%; lower-purity separated metal pays 2%. The relevant intermixture lines pay 4%, with no recorded anti-dumping or countervailing duty.
Does yttrium metal need UK REACH registration?
Check your registration position for imports into Great Britain at or above 1 tonne per year. HSE states that registration is per substance and per legal entity.
What should a yttrium certificate of analysis show?
Ask for the batch identity, purity basis, yttrium content, neighbouring rare-earth impurities, iron, oxygen, nitrogen and carbon, with test methods. Agree independent checks against your process specification.
Can I use the yttrium metal code for an alloy?
Do not assume so. The tariff separates high-purity yttrium from intermixtures and interalloys. Give your broker the full composition and physical form before selecting the code or claiming a suspension.