Sourcing allyl chloride from China

Allyl chloride duty: 4%

Heading 2903 covers halogenated derivatives of hydrocarbons. Allyl chloride belongs within the residual line for other unsaturated chlorinated derivatives of acyclic hydrocarbons, 2903 29 00 90. The table describes purchasing uses and packaging under this same tariff line, rather than separate commodity codes. For wider heading context, see vinyl chloride monomer.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, the line carries 4% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measure recorded. Its autonomous suspension applies only to trans-dichloroethylene, so it does not reduce allyl chloride duty. The tariff attaches export controls on dangerous chemicals and waste; ask your customs broker to confirm their relevance to the proposed transaction. Waste shipment controls apply only where the material is waste.

Confirm the commodity code using the substance identity, composition and intended form of supply. Give the broker the specification and safety data sheet, especially if the order contains a mixture rather than allyl chloride supplied as a substance.

Specify allyl chloride by composition and use

Write the intended synthesis or laboratory use into the purchase specification. Agree assay, water, acidity, colour and the impurity profile, together with test methods and acceptance criteria. Ask the factory to identify any stabiliser or other additive and state whether the material is virgin or recovered. Match the approved sample and batch analysis to the actual production source.

Establish your UK REACH registration position with HSE against your annual import volume before ordering. Registration is per substance and per legal entity. For Great Britain, ensure correct labelling and packaging before placing the chemical on the market. A safety data sheet is required when a hazardous chemical is supplied for use at work.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 1 tonne of drum-packed allyl chloride for a process trial, illustrative under 2903 29 00 90, invoiced at £2,500 free on board, with £3,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £6,000. Duty at 4% is £240. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £6,240, so it is £1,248. Import taxes total £1,488; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £240 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Identity: match the order, batch analysis, drum labels and safety data sheet to allyl chloride; resolve inconsistent names or compositions before shipment.

Composition: compare assay, water, acidity and impurities with the agreed specification; arrange independent testing through testing and certification.

Packaging: inspect drum bodies, closures, gaskets and seals for damage or leakage; match package identification and transport paperwork to the supplied chemical.

Arrival: reconcile batch marks and received quantities with dispatch records; have trained personnel take any required samples under the agreed handling procedure.

What goes wrong

A headline purity figure can hide unacceptable water, acidity or impurities. An analysis certificate for a different batch does not establish the quality of the delivered material. Agree the impurity profile and intended process use before accepting a sample, then compare the delivery against those same criteria.

Poor closures, damaged drums and inconsistent product names cause handling and acceptance problems. Another error is budgeting for the suspension simply because it appears against the commodity code: the named substance is trans-dichloroethylene, not allyl chloride. Hold discrepant stock apart while the supplier and your chemical adviser resolve the issue.

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.