Sourcing zinc dust and zinc powder from China
Zinc dust, powders and flakes from China, used in zinc-rich anti-corrosion paints, chemical reduction and mechanical plating, pay 0% UK duty on both lines of heading 7903, with no anti-dumping duty. Zinc dust is hazardous under GB CLP and can react with moisture, so labels, a safety data sheet and dry packing matter as much as metallic zinc content and particle size.
0% duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 17 November 2026, heading 7903 covers zinc dust, powders and flakes. Both lines carried 0% on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure. The tariff attaches a waste import control, answered by a not-waste declaration for new material.
Zinc ingots are covered in our zinc ingots guide; confirm the commodity code.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zinc dust | 7903 10 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Other zinc powders and flakes | 7903 90 00 00 | 0% | None |
Specifying zinc dust
Specify metallic zinc and total zinc content, lead, cadmium and iron limits, particle size distribution, and packing in sealed, moisture-proof drums. Zinc dust carries hazard classifications under the retained CLP Regulation, including for the aquatic environment, and some grades can release flammable gas in contact with water, so ask for the GB-format safety data sheet, labels and transport classification.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 10 tonnes of zinc dust for zinc-rich primer under 7903 10 00 00, invoiced at £30,000 free on board, with £1,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £31,500. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £31,500, so it is £6,300. 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
Analysis: check metallic zinc content and particle size against the certificate.
Packing: check drums are sealed and dry.
Documents: check the safety data sheet and transport classification. See our quality inspection guide.
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What goes wrong
Zinc dust orders fail on metallic content, particle size and packing. Metallic zinc is lower because the powder oxidised, particle size is coarser than specified, and drums are damp.
Cambridge China Bridge sources minor metals for UK manufacturers with assay and documents agreed before payment. See factory verification.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on zinc dust from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 17 November 2026, zinc dust and powder under heading 7903 carried 0% from China.
Why does metallic zinc content matter?
It decides the anti-corrosion performance of zinc-rich paint; oxidised powder has less.
Is zinc dust hazardous?
It carries GB CLP classifications and some grades react with water; follow the safety data sheet.
Is zinc oxide in heading 7903?
No. Zinc oxide is a chemical of heading 2817.