Sourcing 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate from China
2-hydroxyethyl acrylate from China carries 6% UK duty under the other acrylic esters line; the listed suspensions cover different substances. Great Britain importers must address UK REACH registration and chemical classification, labelling and packaging. Cambridge China Bridge sources 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate.
Duty on 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate
Heading 2916 covers unsaturated acyclic and cyclic monocarboxylic acids and specified derivatives. For separately supplied 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate, the relevant candidate is 2916 12 00 90, other esters of acrylic acid. The table shows purchasing presentations sharing this tariff line, rather than separate commodity codes. See the wider acids and acrylates guide.
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, the line carries 6% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty recorded. Its zero-duty suspensions name other substances and do not cover 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate. The tariff also attaches an export control for waste. Ask your customs broker to confirm its relevance to the proposed shipment, particularly if the material is waste or recovered stock.
Confirm the commodity code using the full chemical identity, composition and supplier documents. Do not assume a formulated blend belongs in the same line as the separately supplied monomer. Check the declaration against the tariff applicable when importing.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate, technical grade | 2916 12 00 90 | 6% | None |
Specify purity, inhibitor and batch identity
Specify 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate by its full chemical name and chemical identifier. Make clear that hydroxyethyl methacrylate is not an acceptable substitute. Agree assay, water content, acidity, colour, inhibitor identity and inhibitor content, with test methods and acceptance criteria. Request a batch certificate of analysis and a retained sample before shipment.
Agree packaging material, closure integrity and the supplier's storage and transport conditions. Acrylates can polymerise if inhibitor protection is inadequate or the shipment overheats. Ask how inhibitor content and temperature history will be documented, and arrange a process trial before accepting a replacement supplier.
Check the UK REACH registration route before ordering. Where a new registration is required and downstream user import notification provisions do not apply, complete registration is required before manufacture or imports into Great Britain reach 1 tonne per year. Chemical suppliers are responsible for classification; importers must ensure correct labelling and packaging. A safety data sheet is required for a hazardous chemical supplied for use at work.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 1 tonne of technical-grade 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate; illustrative FOB and freight values under 2916 12 00 90, invoiced at £3,500 free on board, with £2,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £6,000. Duty at 6% is £360. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £6,360, so it is £1,272. Import taxes total £1,632; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £360 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Identity: match the purchase order, container labels, safety data sheet and analysis certificate to the same chemical and batch.
Analysis: compare assay, water, acidity, colour and inhibitor results with the agreed specification; arrange independent testing where acceptance depends on these results.
Containers: check seals, closures, leaks, damage and batch markings on arrival before releasing stock.
Stability: review the temperature record and storage instructions; hold material with unexpected thickening, gel or sediment for technical assessment.
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What goes wrong
A quotation can describe only purity while leaving inhibitor content, water and acidity unspecified. A compliant assay result then fails to explain poor process performance. A generic certificate without the delivered batch number also leaves the buyer unable to trace the result. Put the complete specification and batch evidence into the purchase order.
Inadequate inhibitor protection or excessive heat can cause polymerisation in transit. Do not accept altered material solely because the drum is sealed. Another costly error is claiming a suspension intended for a different acrylate sharing the same commodity code. Check both the chemical identity and the suspension wording.
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 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate from China?
The relevant other acrylic esters line, 2916 12 00 90, carries 6% duty. Its listed suspensions cover other named chemicals. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty is recorded in the supplied tariff facts.
Do I need UK REACH registration to import it?
Check your registration route. If a new registration is required and downstream user import notification provisions do not apply, complete registration is required before imports into Great Britain reach 1 tonne per year.
What should the factory's analysis certificate show?
Ask for batch identity, assay, water content, acidity, colour and inhibitor content, with test methods. Match the certificate to the delivered batch and your agreed acceptance criteria.
Why has the material thickened during shipping?
Acrylates can polymerise if inhibitor protection is inadequate or temperatures are excessive. Hold the batch, review its inhibitor results and temperature history, and obtain a technical assessment before use.