Sourcing acrylonitrile from China
Acrylonitrile from China carries 6% standard UK duty, or 0% where a suspension applies. Purity of at least 99% by weight qualifies for the purity suspension; specified manufacturing uses have a separate authorised-use route. Confirm UK REACH coverage and dangerous goods arrangements before shipping. Cambridge China Bridge sources acrylonitrile.
Acrylonitrile duty and suspension conditions
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 5 November 2026, heading 2926 covers nitrile-function compounds. Acrylonitrile falls under 2926 10 00 00 and carries 6% standard duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty for this line.
The purity suspension reduces duty to 0% for acrylonitrile with purity by weight of 99% or more, excluding mixtures and preparations. A separate 0% authorised-use suspension covers manufacture of goods of Chapter 55 and headings 2921, 2924, 3906, 4002 and 6815, subject to customs supervision. Confirm the applicable route and supporting documents before claiming relief.
The tariff also attaches an export waste control. Ask your customs broker to confirm its relevance, particularly for rejected material returned overseas. For waste imported into England under notification controls, the exporter must obtain consent through the dispatch country's competent authority. Confirm identity, composition and intended use through finding your commodity code. See the wider nitriles guide for other substances.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acrylonitrile | 2926 10 00 00 | 6% | None |
Specify purity, stabiliser and intended use
Specify acrylonitrile by chemical identity, purity by weight, water content, impurity profile and stabiliser identity and concentration. Agree analytical methods and acceptance limits with the producer rather than accepting a generic industrial-grade description. Require a certificate of analysis tied to the shipment batch.
For Great Britain, importers must ensure that the substances they import are covered by a valid UK REACH registration. Confirm applicable registration requirements and any only representative arrangement with HSE before ordering. Acrylonitrile is a classified carcinogen; confirm any restrictions on supply to the general public for the actual composition with HSE. Plan for business use and obtain the English safety data sheet.
Stabilised acrylonitrile is a flammable dangerous good with a toxic subsidiary risk. Confirm applicable packaging, hazard labelling and dangerous goods declaration requirements with the relevant transport authority or specialist carrier. Agree the stabiliser level, transport conditions and receiving arrangements with the producer and carrier before loading.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 15 tonnes of acrylonitrile; confirm suspension eligibility separately under 2926 10 00 00, invoiced at £21,000 free on board, with £2,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £23,500. Duty at 6% is £1,410. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £24,910, so it is £4,982. Import taxes total £6,392; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,410 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Identity and batch: match container labels, invoice, safety data sheet and analysis certificate to the ordered acrylonitrile and delivered batch.
Purity and impurities: have a laboratory check representative samples against the agreed assay, water and impurity limits, retaining evidence for any purity-based duty claim.
Stabiliser: check the declared identity and concentration against the contract and the agreed transport and storage conditions.
Packaging and documents: check seals, container condition, hazard labels and dangerous goods paperwork before loading and again at receipt. Agree safe sampling with the receiving site.
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What goes wrong
A satisfactory purity result can conceal a stabiliser mismatch. The reference guide identifies insufficient stabiliser for the journey and missing dangerous goods documents as acrylonitrile shipment failures. Check stabiliser separately from assay and review the shipping documents before dispatch.
A duty estimate also fails when the buyer assumes every acrylonitrile shipment qualifies for suspension. Keep purity evidence separate from authorised-use evidence and resolve discrepancies before the declaration. Use an agreed sampling and acceptance plan, as explained in quality inspection.
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 acrylonitrile from China?
The standard duty is 6% under 2926 10 00 00. A 0% suspension applies at purity of 99% or more by weight; a separate authorised-use suspension covers specified manufacturing uses. Check the conditions before claiming either.
Do I need UK REACH registration for acrylonitrile?
For imports into Great Britain of one tonne or more annually, confirm UK REACH registration coverage through your business or an appointed only representative before ordering.
What should I specify when buying acrylonitrile?
Specify purity, water, impurities, stabiliser identity and concentration, analytical methods and acceptance limits. Require a batch-specific certificate of analysis and agree transport conditions.
Can I sell imported acrylonitrile to the public?
Acrylonitrile is a classified carcinogen. Confirm any UK REACH restrictions on supply to the general public with HSE. Check the actual composition and intended customer before supplying.