Sourcing 1-butene from China

1-butene duty and classification

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 2901 covers acyclic hydrocarbons. Its butene and isomers line, 2901 23 00 00, covers 1-butene and carries 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. The table shows buying forms within this same commodity line, rather than separate tariff subdivisions.

The UK Trade Tariff attaches an export waste control to this line. Its recorded wording concerns waste exports. Environment Agency guidance for England says waste shipment controls apply only when the material is waste. If the proposed cargo is recovered material or its waste status is uncertain, ask your customs broker to confirm the applicable requirements before shipment.

Confirm the identity and composition using the batch certificate and safety data sheet, then check the commodity code. For wider heading context, see our 1-hexene guide.

Specify the 1-butene isomer and impurities

Write 1-butene explicitly in the purchase specification. A description of just 'butene' does not establish the required isomer. Agree the intended use, assay method, purity, other butene isomers, butane, moisture, oxygen and sulphur compounds. Ask for actual batch results rather than a generic product sheet. Agree the gas-container type, valve connection, previous cargo and cleaning records with the receiving site.

1-butene is a flammable gas. Plan dangerous goods handling and paperwork before booking transport. For Great Britain, confirm the applicable UK REACH registration requirements and any only-representative coverage with HSE. Suppliers must ensure correct labelling and packaging before sale. A safety data sheet is required for hazardous chemicals supplied for workplace use.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 18 tonnes of 1-butene in a tank suitable for liquefied gas; illustrative order under 2901 23 00 00, invoiced at £21,000 free on board, with £3,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £24,200. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £24,200, so it is £4,840. 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

Identity: match the order, batch certificate, container labels and safety data sheet to 1-butene; check the isomer profile by gas chromatography.

Impurities: compare measured moisture, oxygen, sulphur compounds and other hydrocarbons with the agreed specification and batch results.

Container: have the receiving gas specialist check seals, valve protection, connection compatibility, condition and cleaning records before transfer.

Documents: reconcile batch identifiers, delivered quantity, analysis results and dangerous goods paperwork. Agree specialist sampling before arrival; see quality inspection explained.

What goes wrong

A mixed butene stream can be offered against an order for the specific isomer. A certificate showing only total hydrocarbon purity may conceal the wrong composition. Moisture, oxygen or residues from previous cargo can also make an otherwise correctly identified batch unsuitable for the buyer's process.

Valve connections may not match the receiving equipment, and documents may refer to a different batch or product. Resolve these points before loading. On arrival, hold any disputed batch separately and have a specialist assess it before transfer or use.

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.