Sourcing alginates and natural polymers from China
Natural polymers and modified natural polymers in primary forms, such as alginic acid and alginates, xanthan gum, hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulphate, pay 0% UK duty from China on all nine lines of heading 3913, with no anti-dumping duty. The grade decides what the material can be used for: food, cosmetic, pharmaceutical and technical grades carry different purity and documentation.
0% duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, heading 3913 covers natural polymers (for example, alginic acid) and modified natural polymers (for example, hardened proteins and chemical derivatives of natural rubber), not elsewhere specified or included, in primary forms. All nine lines, split into alginic acid and its salts and esters, and other, carried 0% on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure. The lines carry a waste import control, answered by a not-waste declaration, and some named products carry suspensions.
Cellulose and its derivatives are heading 3912, and plant mucilages and thickeners such as guar gum heading 1302; confirm the commodity code.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alginic acid, its salts and esters, other | 3913 10 00 90 | 0% | None |
| Xanthan gum | 3913 90 00 40 | 0% | None |
| Sterile sodium hyaluronate | 3913 90 00 85 | 0% | None |
| Chondroitin sulphate, sodium salt | 3913 90 00 95 | 0% | None |
| Other natural and modified natural polymers | 3913 90 00 99 | 0% | None |
Grades and specification
Specify the polymer and grade (food, cosmetic, pharmaceutical or technical), viscosity at a stated concentration, molecular weight where it matters, particle size, pH, moisture, heavy metals and microbiology, and packing. A material used as a food additive must be a permitted additive meeting its purity specification, and a pharmaceutical grade needs the relevant pharmacopoeia and manufacturing documents, so ask for them before ordering.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 10 tonnes of food-grade xanthan gum under 3913 90 00 40, invoiced at £32,000 free on board, with £1,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £33,200. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £33,200, so it is £6,640. 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
Viscosity: check against the specification.
Purity: check heavy metals and microbiology for food or cosmetic grades.
Documents: check grade certificates and certificates of analysis. See our quality inspection guide.
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What goes wrong
Natural polymer orders fail on grade and viscosity. Technical grade is supplied for food use, viscosity varies between lots, and microbiology results are missing.
Cambridge China Bridge sources materials for UK manufacturers with documents agreed before shipment. See factory verification.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on sodium alginate from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, alginic acid and its salts under 3913 10 carried 0% from China.
Is xanthan gum in heading 3913?
Yes. It is listed under 3913 90 and carried 0%.
Why does the tariff show a waste control?
The lines carry a waste import control; a traded polymer is declared as not waste.
Is guar gum in heading 3913?
No. Plant mucilages and thickeners such as guar gum are heading 1302.