Subheading · Chapter 28 · Heading 2836
2836.91: Carbonates: other, lithium carbonates
Lithium carbonate
Official description Lithium carbonates
2836.91 is the HS subheading for lithium carbonate, under heading 2836 in chapter 28.
What you pay
Importing into UK
Rates by national line · UK Global Tariff
UK lines →- 2836 91 00 00 Lithium carbonates
- 2836 91 00 20 Lithium carbonate, containing one or more of the following impurities at the concentrations indicated: - 2 mg/kg or more of arsenic, - 200 mg/kg or more of calcium, - 200 mg/kg or more of chlorides, - 20 mg/kg or more of iron, - 150 mg/kg or more of magnesium, - 20 mg/kg or more of heavy metals, - 300 mg/kg or more of potassium, - 300 mg/kg or more of sodium, - 200 mg/kg or more of sulphates, determined according to the methods specified in the european pharmacopœia 4%
- 2836 91 00 90 Other 4%
Additional duties and import rules
Charges on top of the customs duty, and rules the goods must meet at the border.
Additional duties and charges 3
- Additional dutyAdditional duties 35%
- Applies to goods from
- Belarus, Russia
- Legal act
- 2022 No. 833
- Documents
- 9018
- Duty suspensionAutonomous tariff suspension Free
- Applies to goods from
- all countries
- In force
- until 31 December 2028
- Legal act
- 2020 No. 1435
- Tariff lines
- on 1 of 2 lines
- Duty suspensionSuspension - goods for certain categories of ships, boats and other vessels and for drilling or production platforms Free
- Applies to goods from
- all countries
- Legal act
- 2020 No. 1431
- Documents
- C990 End use authorisation ships and platforms (Column 8c, Annex A of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2446)
Import requirements 4
- Prohibition or restrictionImport prohibition
- Applies to goods from
- North Korea
- Legal act
- S.I. 2019/411
- Import controlRestriction on entry into free circulation
- Applies to goods from
- Russia, Ukraine
- Legal act
- 2023 No. 440, S.I. 2022/395
- Documents
- 9011
- 9022
- 9038
- 9009
- 9010
- 9017
- Import controlImport control on restricted goods and technologies
- Applies to goods from
- Iran
- Legal act
- S.I. 2019/461
- Documents
- Y966 Goods other than those described in the MG footnotes linked to the measure (Missile Technology Control Regime list - Annex III of Reg. (EU) 267/2012)
- Import controlImport control - Waste
- Applies to goods from
- all countries
- Legal act
- S.I. 2019/590
- Documents
- C672 Information document accompanying shipments of waste as mentioned in Regulation (EU) 2024/1157 – Article 18 and Annex VII
- C669 Notification document as mentioned in Regulation (EU) 2024/1157 - Article 5 and Annex IA
- Y923 Product not subjected to the provisions of Regulation (EU) 2024/1157
- C670 Movement document as mentioned in Regulation (EU) 2024/1157 – Article 5 and Annex IB
Preferential rates by country
| Agreement or scheme | Countries | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| standard rate (no agreement) | — | 4% |
| DCTS Comprehensive | Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin and 38 moreAfghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo - Kinshasa, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kiribati, Laos, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, Niger, Rwanda, São Tomé & Príncipe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, Yemen, Zambia | Free |
| European Union (including code " EU") | Free | |
| DCTS Enhanced | Algeria, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Congo - Brazzaville and 13 moreAlgeria, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Congo - Brazzaville, Cook Islands, Kyrgyzstan, Micronesia, Mongolia, Nigeria, Niue, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu | Free |
| CARIFORUM | Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize and 10 moreAntigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago | Free |
| OCTs (Overseas Countries and Territories) | Anguilla, Bermuda, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands and 7 moreAnguilla, Bermuda, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Montserrat, Pitcairn Islands, South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands, St Helena, Turks & Caicos Islands | Free |
| Central America | Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama | Free |
| SADC EPA | Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia | Free |
| Eastern and Southern Africa States | Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Zimbabwe | Free |
| CPTPP | Brunei, Malaysia | Free |
| UK–Andorra agreement | Andorra | Free |
| UK–Albania agreement | Albania | Free |
| UK–Australia agreement | Australia | Free |
| UK–Canada agreement | Canada | Free |
| UK–Switzerland agreement | Switzerland | Free |
| UK–Côte d’Ivoire agreement | Côte d’Ivoire | Free |
| UK–Chile agreement | Chile | Free |
| UK–Cameroon agreement | Cameroon | Free |
| UK–Colombia agreement | Colombia | Free |
| UK–Ceuta & Melilla agreement | Ceuta & Melilla | Free |
| UK–Ecuador agreement | Ecuador | Free |
| UK–Egypt agreement | Egypt | Free |
| UK–Fiji agreement | Fiji | Free |
| UK–Faroe Islands agreement | Faroe Islands | Free |
| UK–Georgia agreement | Georgia | Free |
| UK–Ghana agreement | Ghana | Free |
| DCTS Standard | Indonesia | Free |
| UK–Israel agreement | Israel | Free |
| UK–India agreement | India | Free |
| UK–Iceland agreement | Iceland | Free |
| UK–Jordan agreement | Jordan | Free |
| UK–Japan agreement | Japan | Free |
| UK–Kenya agreement | Kenya | Free |
| UK–South Korea agreement | South Korea | Free |
| UK–Lebanon agreement | Lebanon | Free |
| UK–Liechtenstein agreement | Liechtenstein | Free |
| UK–Morocco agreement | Morocco | Free |
| UK–Moldova agreement | Moldova | Free |
| UK–North Macedonia agreement | North Macedonia | Free |
| UK–Mexico agreement | Mexico | Free |
| UK–Norway agreement | Norway | Free |
| UK–New Zealand agreement | New Zealand | Free |
| UK–Peru agreement | Peru | Free |
| UK–Papua New Guinea agreement | Papua New Guinea | Free |
| UK–Palestinian Territories agreement | Palestinian Territories | Free |
| UK–Serbia agreement | Serbia | Free |
| UK–Solomon Islands agreement | Solomon Islands | Free |
| UK–Singapore agreement | Singapore | Free |
| UK–San Marino agreement | San Marino | Free |
| UK–Tunisia agreement | Tunisia | Free |
| UK–Türkiye agreement | Türkiye | Free |
| UK–Ukraine agreement | Ukraine | Free |
| UK–Vietnam agreement | Vietnam | Free |
| UK–Samoa agreement | Samoa | Free |
| UK–Kosovo agreement | Kosovo | Free |
| UK–South Africa agreement | South Africa | Free |
UK: imports by month
Main suppliers, last 12 months
| Country | Value | Share | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
 Chile | £28.7m | 77% | +162.2% |
 Argentina | £6.7m | 18% | +632.8% |
 United States | £1.2m | 3.2% | +195.9% |
 Italy | £446k | 1.2% | — |
 Brazil | £97k | 0.3% | — |
 Germany | £59k | 0.2% | +688% |
| United Kingdom | £32k | 0.1% | -69.3% |
 Czechia | £28k | 0.1% | -65.1% |
Same subheading in other tariffs
EU 5.5% Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Türkiye 5.5% Third-country duty 1 tariff line USA 3.7% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Canada Free Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Mexico Free Third-country duty 1 tariff line Brazil 9% Third-country duty 1 tariff line Argentina 9% Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Peru Free Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
New Zealand Free Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Japan Free Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Taiwan 3.5% Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
GCC 5% Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Switzerland Free Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Norway Free Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
North Macedonia 3% Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Nigeria 5% Third-country duty 1 tariff line World trade in 2024
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$237kUS$237k+US$4m+US$25m+> US$721m
Exports: 57
- Chile: US$3bn
- Argentina: US$721m
- South Korea: US$69m
- China: US$63m
- Germany: US$56m
- United Kingdom: US$25m
- United States: US$24m
- Netherlands: US$19m
- Bolivia: US$16m
- France: US$8m
- Belgium: US$5m
- Brazil: US$5m
- India: US$4m
- Italy: US$3m
- Laos: US$1m
- Spain: US$1m
- Japan: US$953k
- Taiwan: US$789k
- Switzerland: US$657k
- Singapore: US$448k
- Austria: US$419k
- Denmark: US$399k
- Slovenia: US$364k
- Portugal: US$329k
- Mozambique: US$291k
- Ireland: US$237k
- Czechia: US$233k
- Slovakia: US$208k
- Thailand: US$162k
- Poland: US$151k
- Philippines: US$111k
- Australia: US$82k
- Hungary: US$56k
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$45k
- Sweden: US$44k
- Croatia: US$40k
- Lithuania: US$37k
- Türkiye: US$22k
- Guatemala: US$19k
- New Zealand: US$18k
- Vietnam: US$16k
- Canada: US$6k
- Côte d’Ivoire: US$5k
- Burundi: US$4k
- Russia: US$4k
- United Arab Emirates: US$3k
- Myanmar (Burma): US$2k
- Finland: US$800
- South Africa: US$700
- Luxembourg: US$500
- Malaysia: US$200
- Zimbabwe: US$100
- Bulgaria: US$0
- Indonesia: US$0
- Latvia: US$0
- Nigeria: US$0
- Zambia: US$0
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$101kUS$101k+US$830k+US$10m+> US$195m
Imports: 114
- China: US$3bn
- South Korea: US$426m
- Japan: US$215m
- United States: US$195m
- Netherlands: US$110m
- Belgium: US$78m
- Germany: US$52m
- United Kingdom: US$36m
- France: US$29m
- India: US$15m
- Italy: US$11m
- Türkiye: US$10m
- Spain: US$9m
- Hungary: US$9m
- Taiwan: US$8m
- Canada: US$6m
- Latvia: US$5m
- Australia: US$4m
- Russia: US$3m
- Poland: US$3m
- Indonesia: US$3m
- Mexico: US$3m
- Malaysia: US$2m
- Thailand: US$2m
- Austria: US$2m
- Vietnam: US$2m
- Sweden: US$1m
- Czechia: US$830k
- Finland: US$814k
- United Arab Emirates: US$781k
- Norway: US$681k
- Brazil: US$660k
- Denmark: US$656k
- Switzerland: US$650k
- South Africa: US$606k
- Greece: US$583k
- Slovenia: US$484k
- Saudi Arabia: US$456k
- Portugal: US$447k
- Egypt: US$400k
- Israel: US$391k
- Slovakia: US$309k
- Croatia: US$309k
- Colombia: US$240k
- Pakistan: US$194k
- Romania: US$167k
- Argentina: US$151k
- New Zealand: US$144k
- Sri Lanka: US$141k
- Singapore: US$138k
- Estonia: US$134k
- Iran: US$125k
- Serbia: US$124k
- Ukraine: US$118k
- Senegal: US$117k
- Philippines: US$101k
- Uruguay: US$88k
- Ireland: US$85k
- Iceland: US$85k
- Chile: US$78k
Top exporters
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chile | US$3bn | 73.3% |
| 2 | Argentina | US$721m | 18.8% |
| 3 |  South Korea | US$69m | 1.8% |
| 4 |  China | US$63m | 1.6% |
| 5 | Germany | US$56m | 1.5% |
| 6 | United Kingdom | US$25m | 0.6% |
| 7 | United States | US$24m | 0.6% |
| 8 |  Netherlands | US$19m | 0.5% |
| 9 |  Bolivia | US$16m | 0.4% |
| 10 |  France | US$8m | 0.2% |
Top importers
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | US$3bn | 67.3% |
| 2 | South Korea | US$426m | 11.1% |
| 3 | Japan | US$215m | 5.6% |
| 4 | United States | US$195m | 5.1% |
| 5 | Netherlands | US$110m | 2.9% |
| 6 |  Belgium | US$78m | 2% |
| 7 | Germany | US$52m | 1.4% |
| 8 | United Kingdom | US$36m | 1% |
| 9 | France | US$29m | 0.8% |
| 10 |  India | US$15m | 0.4% |
Import duty on this product around the world 164
The most-favoured-nation (MFN) duty each country applies to goods of this HS subheading: the average over its national tariff lines, with the lowest and highest line where they differ. Goods from countries with a trade agreement often pay less.
- 5%median duty
- 58number of duty-free countries (MFN)
- 45%highest: Bahamas, Bermuda, Cayman Islands
164
| Importing country | MFN duty | lines from – to | data year |
|---|---|---|---|
 Albania | 2% | 2023 | |
 Algeria | 15% | 2023 | |
 Angola | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Anguilla | 10% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Antigua & Barbuda | 5% | 2021 · HS 2007 | |
| Argentina | 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Armenia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Aruba | 12% | 2021 · HS 2012 | |
 Australia | 0% | 2023 | |
 Azerbaijan | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Bahamas | 45% | 2022 | |
 Bahrain | 5% | 2023 | |
 Bangladesh | 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Barbados | 5% | 2022 · HS 2017 | |
 Belarus | 5% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Belize | 5% | 2023 | |
 Benin | 5% | 2023 | |
 Bermuda | 25% | 2023 | |
 Bhutan | 10% | 2022 | |
| Bolivia | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Bosnia & Herzegovina | 0% | 2022 | |
 Botswana | 0% | 2023 | |
| Brazil | 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Brunei | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Burkina Faso | 5% | 2023 | |
 Burundi | 0% | 2023 | |
 Cambodia | 7% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Cameroon | 10% | 2023 | |
| Canada | 0% | 2023 | |
 Cape Verde | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Cayman Islands | 22% | 2021 · HS 2002 | |
 Central African Republic | 10% | 2023 | |
 Chad | 10% | 2023 | |
| Chile | 6% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
| China | 5% | 2023 | |
 Colombia | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Comoros | 20% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Congo - Brazzaville | 10% | 2023 | |
 Cook Islands | 0% | 2022 · HS 2017 | |
 Costa Rica | 0% | 2023 | |
 Côte d’Ivoire | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Cuba | 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Dominica | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Dominican Republic | 0% | 2023 | |
 Ecuador | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Egypt | 2% | 2019 · HS 2017 | |
 El Salvador | 0% | 2022 | |
 Equatorial Guinea | 10% | 2023 | |
 Eswatini | 0% | 2023 | |
 Ethiopia | 10% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
| European Union (27 countries) | 5.5% | 2023 | |
 Fiji | 5% | 2023 | |
 French Polynesia | 8% | 2023 | |
 Gabon | 10% | 2023 | |
 Gambia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Georgia | 0% | 2022 · HS 2017 | |
 Ghana | 5% | 2023 | |
 Gibraltar | 12% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Grenada | 5% | 2023 · HS 2012 | |
 Guatemala | 0% | 2023 | |
 Guinea | 5% | 2023 | |
 Guinea-Bissau | 5% | 2023 | |
 Guyana | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Haiti | 0% | 2020 · HS 2017 | |
 Honduras | 0% | 2023 | |
 Hong Kong SAR China | 0% | 2023 | |
 Iceland | 0% | 2023 | |
| India | 7.5% | 2023 | |
 Indonesia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Iran | 13% | 5% – 20% | 2020 · HS 2017 |
 Israel | 0% | 2022 · HS 2017 | |
 Jamaica | 0% | 2023 | |
| Japan | 0% | 2023 | |
 Jordan | 0% | 2023 | |
 Kazakhstan | 5% | 2023 | |
 Kenya | 0% | 2023 | |
 Kiribati | 0% | 2023 · HS 2002 | |
 Kuwait | 5% | 2023 | |
 Kyrgyzstan | 5% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Laos | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Lebanon | 0% | 2020 · HS 2017 | |
 Lesotho | 0% | 2023 | |
 Liberia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Libya | 5% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Liechtenstein | 0.3%* | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Macao SAR China | 0% | 2023 | |
 Madagascar | 5% | 2023 | |
 Malawi | 0% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Malaysia | 0% | 2023 | |
 Maldives | 15% | 2023 | |
 Mali | 5% | 2023 | |
 Mauritania | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Mauritius | 0% | 2023 | |
| Mexico | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Micronesia | 4% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Moldova | 3% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Mongolia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Montserrat | 15% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Morocco | 2.5% | 2023 | |
 Mozambique | 2.5% | 2023 | |
 Myanmar (Burma) | 3% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Namibia | 0% | 2023 | |
 Nauru | 10% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Nepal | 5% | 2023 | |
| New Zealand | 0% | 2023 | |
 Nicaragua | 0% | 2023 | |
 Niger | 5% | 2023 | |
| Nigeria | 5% | 2023 | |
| North Macedonia | 3% | 2023 | |
| Norway | 0% | 2023 | |
 Oman | 5% | 2023 | |
 Pakistan | 0% | 2023 | |
 Palau | 3% | 2023 · HS 2012 | |
 Palestinian Territories | 0% | 2017 · HS 2017 | |
 Panama | 0% | 2023 | |
 Papua New Guinea | 0% | 2023 | |
 Paraguay | 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
| Peru | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Philippines | 3% | 2023 | |
 Qatar | 5% | 2023 | |
 Russia | 5% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Rwanda | 0% | 2023 | |
 Samoa | 8% | 2020 · HS 2017 | |
 São Tomé & Príncipe | 5% | 2019 · HS 2017 | |
 Saudi Arabia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Senegal | 5% | 2023 | |
 Seychelles | 0% | 2023 | |
 Sierra Leone | 5% | 2023 | |
 Singapore | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Solomon Islands | 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Somalia | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 South Africa | 0% | 2023 | |
| South Korea | 5% | 2023 | |
 Sri Lanka | 0% | 2023 | |
 St Kitts & Nevis | 5% | 2023 | |
 St Lucia | 5% | 2023 · HS 2012 | |
 St Pierre & Miquelon | 8% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 St Vincent & the Grenadines | 5% | 2023 | |
 Sudan | 3% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Suriname | 5% | 2023 · HS 2007 | |
| Switzerland | 0.1%* | 2023 | |
 Syria | 1% | 2020 · HS 2012 | |
 Tajikistan | 5.5% | 2021 · HS 2012 | |
 Tanzania | 0% | 2023 | |
 Thailand | 0% | 2023 | |
 Togo | 5% | 2023 | |
 Tonga | 15% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Trinidad & Tobago | 0% | 2023 · HS 2012 | |
| Türkiye | 5.5% | 2023 | |
 Tuvalu | 0% | 2017 · HS 2017 | |
 Uganda | 0% | 2023 | |
 Ukraine | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 United Arab Emirates | 5% | 2023 | |
| United Kingdom | 4% | 2023 | |
| United States | 3.7% | 2023 | |
 Uruguay | 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Uzbekistan | 0% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Vanuatu | 0% | 2023 | |
 Venezuela | 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Vietnam | 0% | 2023 | |
 Wallis & Futuna | 6% | 2021 · HS 2012 | |
 Yemen | 5% | 2017 · HS 2017 | |
 Zambia | 7.5% | 0% – 15% | 2023 |
 Zimbabwe | 0.1% | 2023 |
Tariff data years 2017–2023; rates may have changed since. * ad valorem equivalent of specific duties (UNCTAD estimate) · UNCTAD TRAINS, accessed via WITS (World Bank)
Classifications and correspondences
Where this HS subheading sits in the United Nations' statistical classifications, and which codes it had in earlier editions of the Harmonized System.
- SITC Rev. 4
- 52379 Carbonates other than headings 523.72 -523.74; peroxocarbonates (percarbonates)
- End use (BEC Rev. 5)
- Intermediate goods · BEC 211220
- CPC 2.1 product
- 34240 Phosphates of triammonium; salts and peroxysalts of inorganic acids and metals n.e.c.
- ISIC Rev. 4 activity
- 2011 Manufacture of basic chemicals
Earlier HS editions
| HS | Code | |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 2836.91 | unchanged |
| 2012 | 2836.91 | unchanged |
| 2007 | 2836.91 | unchanged |
| 2002 | 2836.91 | unchanged |
| 1996 | 2836.91 | unchanged |
| 1992 | 2836.91 | unchanged |
Correspondence tables of the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD)
Binding rulings for similar goods 1
Decisions of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CROSS) and HMRC (Advance Tariff Rulings) on goods classified here. A ruling binds only its holder, but shows how the authorities classify similar goods. The descriptions are the authorities’ own, in English.
- N294908 U.S. CBP
The tariff classification, Country of Origin for Marking Purposes, and Trade Program Eligibility of “Lithium Carbonate” from Bolivia
Recent rule changes mentioning this code
Acts whose text cites this code or its heading. Check the act itself: a code can be cited for reasons other than a change of its duty.
- Import and export controls
FR Doc. 2026-14542 · 91 FR 45516 · Source: federalregister.gov
- Tariff change
FR Doc. 2026-11158 · 91 FR 33854 · Source: federalregister.gov
In the UK Global Tariff, subheading 2836.91 covers 2 tariff lines and the duty is 4%.
The EU Combined Nomenclature has one tariff line for subheading 2836.91; the duty is 5.5%.
Goods from 174 countries can enter the UK at a preferential rate instead of the standard 4%; 174 of them pay no duty at all, for example under DCTS Comprehensive or European Union.
In the UK, additional duty of 35% applies on top of the customs duty to goods from Belarus and Russia.
In the 12 months to August 2026, the UK imported lithium carbonate worth £37.3m (up 193% on the year before), at an average of £11.99 per kg; Chile supplied 77%, followed by Argentina.
World trade in lithium carbonate reached US$4bn in 2024, down 53.7% on 2023.
Chile was the largest exporter with 73.3% of the total, ahead of Argentina.
Questions and answers
What is the HS code for carbonates: other, lithium carbonates?
Carbonates: other, lithium carbonates fall under HS subheading 2836.91, part of heading 2836, in section VI of the Harmonized System.
What is the import duty on carbonates: other, lithium carbonates in the UK?
Under the UK Global Tariff, imports under 2836.91 from countries without a preferential agreement are charged at 4%. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
What is the import duty on carbonates: other, lithium carbonates in the EU?
Under the EU Combined Nomenclature, imports under 2836.91 from countries without a preferential agreement are charged at 5.5%. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
Which country exports the most carbonates: other, lithium carbonates?
Chile, with US$3bn in 2024 (73.3% of world exports).
Which countries can export lithium carbonate to the UK duty-free?
174 countries pay no duty under a trade agreement or preference scheme, among them partners under DCTS Comprehensive, European Union, DCTS Enhanced. The goods must meet the agreement’s rules of origin and the importer needs proof of origin; otherwise the standard rate of 4% applies. Pick a country above to see its rate.
Is there anti-dumping duty on lithium carbonate?
The UK charges additional duty of 35% on goods from Belarus and Russia. Lower rates apply to the named exporters listed in the measure.
Where does the UK import lithium carbonate from?
In the 12 months to August 2026, the largest suppliers were Chile (77%), Argentina (18%) and United States (3%), out of total imports of £37.3m.