Sourcing Zinc Sulphate from China

Zinc sulphate duty and waste controls

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 6 November 2026, zinc sulphate under 2833 29 20 00 carries 4% duty from China. The supplied record shows no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension for this line. Heading 2833 covers sulphates, alums and peroxosulphates. The table shows purchasing forms sharing the same zinc sulphate code.

The tariff attaches import and export waste controls. Waste shipment controls apply only where the material is waste. For a shipment from China to England under notification controls, the exporter applies to the dispatch authority; shipment requires consent from the Environment Agency and other authorities involved. Confirm the applicable requirement with your customs broker before accepting recovered or waste material.

Confirm the commodity code against the composition, hydrate and certificate of analysis. Read the magnesium sulphate guide for the wider heading context.

Specify hydrate, zinc assay and intended use

Name the hydrate and state whether the assay means elemental zinc or zinc sulphate, and whether it is measured on the supplied or dry basis. Agree impurity limits, insoluble matter, particle size, test methods and moisture-resistant packing. Obtain a batch certificate of analysis and a sample for the intended process.

For Great Britain, confirm importers' applicable chemical classification, labelling and packaging duties with HSE or your customs broker before supplying the market. Zinc sulphate is hazardous to the aquatic environment; hazardous chemicals supplied for workplace use require a safety data sheet. Confirm the applicable UK REACH registration coverage with HSE or your customs broker based on your substance and annual import volume. Resolve the intended use before accepting a supplier's grade description.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 24 tonnes of industrial zinc sulphate in 25 kg bags under 2833 29 20 00, invoiced at £4,800 free on board, with £1,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £6,300. Duty at 4% is £252. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £6,552, so it is £1,310.40. Import taxes total £1,562.40; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £252 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Identity: match the hydrate, grade and batch numbers on bags, certificates and retained samples.

Assay: independently check zinc content and the agreed impurity limits using the specified methods and calculation basis.

Process suitability: check insoluble matter, particle size and dissolution against the buyer's dosing or blending process.

Arrival condition: check bag weights, intact liners, dry pallets, leakage and caking before releasing stock.

What goes wrong

Hydrate substitution and inconsistent assay bases make quotations difficult to compare. A certificate may describe a different batch, while excess insolubles disrupt dosing. Test representative samples against the written specification rather than accepting the grade name alone.

Moisture ingress can leave bags caked or leaking. Photograph damaged packaging on arrival, isolate affected stock and retain samples. A factory's analysis certificate does not replace the buyer's checks on chemical supply duties.

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.