Sourcing zinc chloride from China

Zinc chloride duty is 4%

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 6 November 2026, heading 2827 covers chlorides and related halide compounds. Plain zinc chloride falls within the residual other-chlorides line, 2827 39 85 90, carrying 4% duty for goods from China. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty is recorded. The suspension attached to this line is limited to specified lithium chloride, so it does not reduce zinc chloride duty.

The tariff attaches import and export waste controls to this line. Environment Agency guidance for England says waste shipment controls apply only where the material is waste. For zinc chloride waste from China, confirm the applicable requirement with your customs broker before shipment; the tariff entry alone does not establish the procedure for a particular consignment.

Confirm the commodity code using the composition, physical form and intended use, especially for formulated fluxes rather than plain zinc chloride. The table describes purchasing forms within the same commodity line. See the calcium and magnesium chloride guide for the wider heading.

Specify zinc chloride assay and impurity limits

State whether you need a solid or a solution, the assay basis, moisture, insoluble matter and limits for iron and other application-sensitive impurities. For solutions, agree concentration and the sampling method. For solid material, agree powder or granules and acceptable caking. Ask for a batch certificate of analysis with named test methods rather than accepting a grade name alone.

For Great Britain, check the UK REACH registration position against annual substance imports and any applicable exemption. Confirm applicable English safety data sheet and hazard labelling requirements with HSE. Chemicals must be labelled and packaged correctly before being placed on the market. Agree sealed, moisture-resistant packaging and handling information before ordering.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative pallet order of technical-grade zinc chloride in sealed packs under 2827 39 85 90, invoiced at £4,500 free on board, with £540 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £5,040. Duty at 4% is £201.60. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £5,241.60, so it is £1,048.32. Import taxes total £1,249.92; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £201.60 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Identity: match the zinc chloride specification, batch identification and certificate of analysis to the material shipped.

Analysis: sample each lot for assay, moisture, insolubles and the agreed impurities; use the same reporting basis as the contract.

Packaging: check seals, liners, closures, pack weights and evidence of leakage or moisture ingress on arrival.

Documents: compare the safety data sheet, hazard labels and batch records with the supplied composition and packaging.

What goes wrong

A quoted assay can refer to a dry basis while the delivered material contains more moisture than expected. Caking, leaking closures and excessive insolubles can also undermine a batch that appears acceptable on its certificate. Agree the reporting basis and acceptance tests, retain representative samples and record packaging damage before releasing stock.

A formulated flux should not be ordered or declared solely as plain zinc chloride without checking its composition. Keep the approved specification linked to the purchase order and batch certificate, and arrange quality inspection against those documents.

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.