Sourcing 1-hexene from China

UK duty on 1-hexene

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 2901 covers acyclic hydrocarbons. For separately defined 1-hexene, the relevant line is other unsaturated acyclic hydrocarbons, 2901 29 00 00. Goods from China carry 0% duty, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measure and no suspension shown. The table lists buying grades under the same tariff line.

The supplied tariff record attaches “Export control - Waste”. This is labelled as an export control. The importer should confirm its relevance and any requirements with their customs broker, particularly if the proposed material is waste or recovered material.

Confirm the commodity code using the composition, intended use and batch analysis before shipment. See the wider acyclic hydrocarbons guide for other products in this heading.

Specify 1-hexene content and process impurities

Order 1-hexene by its full chemical name and intended use. Specify its content separately from total hexenes, with agreed limits for other isomers, water, sulphur, oxygen-containing impurities and non-volatile residue. For polymer production, ask the process owner to approve impurity limits and analytical methods. Request a certificate of analysis for the actual batch.

For Great Britain, UK REACH registration applies at or above one tonne per substance per legal entity each year. Establish whether your imports are covered by your registration or an only representative. Where a new registration is required and notification provisions do not apply, complete registration before imports reach that threshold.

Classification and labelling must be handled by someone with scientific competence. Chemicals must be correctly labelled and packaged before being placed on the market, and hazardous chemicals supplied for workplace use need a safety data sheet. Agree the English safety data sheet and transport arrangements before loading; dangerous goods must be packed and transported according to international regulations.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 18 tonnes of technical-grade 1-hexene in drums, illustrative only under 2901 29 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 and purity: compare the batch certificate with independently tested 1-hexene content and the isomer profile, using an agreed gas chromatography method.

Process impurities: check water, sulphur, oxygen-containing impurities and residue against the purchase specification, rather than accepting a total purity result alone.

Containers: check seals, leaks, container condition, batch identification and cleaning records for any reused tank.

Documents: match the product name and batch across the certificate, labels, safety data sheet and transport paperwork. Arrange representative sampling with trained chemical handlers.

What goes wrong

A supplier reports total hexenes where the buyer specified 1-hexene, or supplies a grade with impurity limits unsuitable for the intended process. Water ingress and residues from previous tank cargo can also cause rejection. A generic certificate does not establish the composition of the delivered batch.

Agree acceptance tests and sample retention before dispatch. Keep the load separate until the receiving checks are complete, and investigate any mismatch before using it in production. Use the inspection guide to define the inspection scope.

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.