Sourcing zinc pigment pastes from China
Zinc pigment pastes in non-aqueous media for paint manufacture carry 0% UK duty from China under 3212 90 00 00. For Great Britain, check UK REACH coverage for constituent substances and compliant hazard labelling and packaging before sale. Cambridge China Bridge sources zinc pigment pastes.
Zero duty on qualifying zinc pigment pastes
Heading 3212 covers pigments, including metallic powders and flakes, dispersed in non-aqueous media in liquid or paste form for paint manufacture, alongside stamping foils and retail colouring matter. This guide concerns zinc pigment pastes. The table shows product variants sharing the same commodity line, rather than separate tariff subdivisions. See the aluminium pigment paste guide for the wider heading.
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, commodity code 3212 90 00 00 carried 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. It attaches a restriction concerning ozone-depleting substances and waste import and export controls. Confirm the applicable declarations and requirements with your customs broker before shipment.
Give your broker the formulation, carrier, physical form and intended use to confirm the commodity code. A non-aqueous pigment paste for manufacturing paint needs to be distinguished from dry zinc powder and finished coating products. Import VAT is normally 20%; see UK import duty and VAT for the calculation method.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-aqueous zinc pigment paste for paint manufacture | 3212 90 00 00 | 0% | None |
Specify zinc content and the carrier
Specify whether the pigment is metallic zinc powder or flakes, its metallic zinc content, total solids, particle-size distribution and carrier composition. State whether content is measured against the supplied paste or its dry solids. Agree viscosity, settling and redispersion acceptance criteria, and test an approved sample in your actual binder and mixing process.
For Great Britain, establish UK REACH coverage for each constituent substance. The registration position depends on annual imports per substance, rather than simply the weight of paste. Confirm the applicable registration threshold and arrangements with HSE. Obtain an English safety data sheet where required, and ensure compliant hazard labels and packaging before placing the product on the market.
For waste imports into England subject to notification controls, the Chinese exporter must apply to the competent authority in the country of dispatch for consent. Have your broker confirm the waste status and applicable shipment procedure. Importing ozone-depleting substances into Great Britain requires a licence; if the carrier contains them, confirm whether the proposed import is permitted before ordering.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 400 kg of non-aqueous zinc pigment paste; illustrative order, values in whole pounds under 3212 90 00 00, invoiced at £6,800 free on board, with £700 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £7,500. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £7,500, so it is £1,500. 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
Composition: compare the batch certificate with the agreed metallic zinc content, solids and carrier specification; check that the certificate identifies the supplied batch.
Dispersion: examine a safely prepared sample for hard sediment and agglomerates, then assess redispersion and viscosity using the agreed method.
Application: trial the paste in the intended coating formulation; compare mixing behaviour, film appearance and the agreed coating performance with the approved sample.
Containers and documents: check closures, leaks, corrosion, batch identification and sampled net contents; match the safety data sheet and hazard label to the actual formulation.
Working out your own order? Send us the product on WhatsApp and we reply the same working day: WhatsApp us
What goes wrong
A supplier can report zinc content on dry solids while the buyer expects content in the delivered paste. A changed carrier can alter viscosity or compatibility with the binder. Hard settling and oversized particles can make a batch difficult to disperse, even when its certificate appears acceptable.
Write the measurement basis and test methods into the purchase specification. Retain the approved sample and compare each delivered batch before production use. Quarantine leaking containers or a batch with unexplained formulation changes, and resolve the discrepancy before releasing it.
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 zinc pigment paste from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, qualifying non-aqueous zinc pigment pastes under 3212 90 00 00 carried 0% duty, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty listed.
Does zinc pigment paste need UK REACH registration?
Check each constituent substance and its annual imported quantity. Confirm the applicable registration threshold and coverage with HSE; paste weight alone does not determine the position.
How do I specify the zinc content?
State metallic zinc content and total solids separately. Say whether each result is based on the supplied paste or dry solids, and agree the test method and acceptance limits.
What should I check when zinc paste arrives?
Check batch identity, containers, net contents and documents, then assess settling, redispersion, viscosity and performance in your intended formulation against the approved sample.