Aniline, ethylenediamine and amines from China
Methylamines, ethylenediamine, hexamethylenediamine, aniline and other amines from China pay 6% UK duty, with no anti-dumping duty; aniline of 99% purity or more enters at 0% with document 9Y12 under a suspension to 2028. Many amines are toxic, corrosive or sensitising, so CLP and dangerous goods rules shape the order. Cambridge China Bridge sources amines.
Amines from China pay 6% UK duty; aniline of 99% or more enters at 0% with document 9Y12. Toxicity, CLP, dangerous goods, testing and an example.
6%, with an aniline suspension
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 26 September 2026, amine-function compounds of heading 2921 carried 6% duty on goods from China, including methylamine, dimethylamine and trimethylamine, ethylenediamine, hexamethylenediamine, aniline and aromatic diamines, with a 0% rate on several residual lines for listed pharmaceutical substances declared with additional code 2500. There was no anti-dumping measure.
Aniline of 99% purity or more has a suspension at 0% to 31 December 2028 when declared with document 9Y12. Controlled amfetamine-type substances have their own line and are controlled drugs, not chemicals for ordinary trade. Confirm the commodity code from the CAS number, and see our textile dyes guide for the colourants many aromatic amines are used to make.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Methylamine, dimethylamine, trimethylamine and salts | 2921 11 00 00 | 6% | None |
| Ethylenediamine and salts | 2921 21 00 00 | 6% | None |
| Hexamethylenediamine and salts | 2921 22 00 00 | 6% | None |
| Aniline and salts | 2921 41 00 00 | 6%; 0% at 99% or more with 9Y12 | None |
| Other aromatic polyamines | 2921 59 90 90 | 0% pharmaceutical / 6% other | None |
Hazards, REACH and transport
Many amines are hazardous: aniline is toxic and a suspected carcinogen, ethylenediamine is corrosive and a skin and respiratory sensitiser, and the methylamines are flammable gases or solutions. Each needs GB CLP labels, an English safety data sheet and UK REACH registration at one tonne a year or more, and they travel as dangerous goods in UN-approved drums, IBCs or ISO tanks.
Some aromatic amines are the ones listed in the REACH azo dye restriction, so textile and leather customers will ask how the amine is used downstream. Buyers who handle these substances at work must have COSHH assessments in place before delivery, which is a reason to agree the safety data sheet and packaging with the supplier early.
Worked duty example
For a made-up shipment of 20 tonnes of hexamethylenediamine under 2921 22 00 00, add the £4,000 of freight and insurance to the £44,000 free-on-board price and customs sees £48,000. At 6%, duty on these hexamethylenediamine is £2,880; import VAT of £10,176 is 20% of the value with duty added. Together that is £13,056, but a VAT-registered importer usually gets the VAT back. Aniline of 99% purity or more under 2921 41 00 00, declared with document 9Y12, would enter at 0% under its suspension. The duty and VAT guide walks through the calculation.
What goes wrong
Amines fail on purity, colour and packaging. Aniline below 99% loses the suspension and discolours in storage, ethylenediamine absorbs water and carbon dioxide if drums are not sealed under nitrogen, hexamethylenediamine solidifies in cold containers and is hard to unload, and drums or IBCs arrive without correct UN marking or with labels that do not match GB CLP.
Test each lot for assay by gas chromatography, water by Karl Fischer and colour against the specification, specify nitrogen-blanketed packing and heated or insulated transport where the melting point needs it, and check UN markings, labels, the safety data sheet and the dangerous goods note before loading.
Cambridge China Bridge sources aniline, ethylenediamine, hexamethylenediamine and other amines for polymer, rubber, dye and chemical makers, with the producer, packaging and paperwork checked before the order. See how we verify chemical producers.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on aniline from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 26 September 2026, aniline carried 6%, or 0% at 99% purity or more with document 9Y12 under a suspension to 2028.
What is the duty on ethylenediamine?
6%, with no anti-dumping duty.
Are amines dangerous goods?
Many are toxic, corrosive or flammable and travel as dangerous goods in UN-approved packaging.
How is an amine lot tested?
Assay by gas chromatography, water by Karl Fischer and colour against the specification.