Sourcing basic textile dyes from China
Basic textile dyes from China carry 6% standard UK duty, with qualifying named colourants suspended to 0%. GB buyers should confirm UK REACH registration coverage, hazard labelling and English safety data sheet requirements with HSE. Match each batch to an approved dyeing standard. Cambridge China Bridge sources basic textile dyes.
Basic dye duty and conditional suspensions
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 3204 covers synthetic organic colouring matter and related preparations. This guide focuses on basic textile dyes, including grades for acrylic. For the wider heading, see our acid textile dyes guide.
The listed basic dye lines have 6% standard duty from China and no recorded anti-dumping or countervailing duty. Basic Red 1, Basic Blue 41 and Basic Violet 1 lines show 0.00 % suspensions, subject to their descriptions and the exclusion of mixtures, preparations or products made from different components containing them. The listed blue mixture remains 6%. Confirm the commodity code using composition and colourant content.
The tariff attaches veterinary control and waste import and export controls to these lines. Waste shipment controls only apply if the material is waste. For a shipment from China, ask your customs broker to confirm the applicable waste procedure and whether the veterinary control requires documents for the actual formulation before dispatch.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Red 1 and preparations, colourant content at least 50% | 3204 13 00 10 | 6% | None |
| Basic Blue 41 and preparations, colourant content at least 50% | 3204 13 00 15 | 6% | None |
| Basic Violet 1 and preparations, colourant content at least 90% | 3204 13 00 40 | 6% | None |
| Basic Blue 3 and Basic Blue 159 mixture, each at 25% to 40% by weight | 3204 13 00 85 | 6% | None |
Specify the dye and the acrylic substrate
Specify the Colour Index identity, chemical identity, colourant content and all diluents or additives. Agree powder or liquid form, relative colour strength, shade tolerance, moisture and insoluble matter. Give the factory your actual acrylic yarn or fabric and dyeing recipe; approve a dyed sample rather than judging powder colour.
For GB imports, ask HSE to confirm UK REACH registration or transitional coverage requirements for each substance, taking account of annual quantities and any coverage through the manufacturer's GB only representative. Confirm whether English safety data sheets and hazard labels are required, and obtain the applicable documents. Ask HSE to confirm any azo dye restrictions relevant to the intended dyed textile, including skin-contact uses.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 5 tonnes of basic blue dye mixture under 3204 13 00 85, invoiced at £24,000 free on board, with £2,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £26,000. Duty at 6% is £1,560. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £27,560, so it is £5,512. Import taxes total £7,072; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,560 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Identity: match the ordered colourant and formulation to the batch certificate, container labels and safety data sheet.
Dyeing performance: dye the arrival sample and retained standard side by side on the agreed acrylic substrate; compare shade, colour strength and levelness.
Physical condition: check moisture, caking, dissolution and insoluble residue against the agreed specification.
Packaging and traceability: check seals, liners, leakage, net weight and batch references; retain a labelled sample from each lot.
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What goes wrong
A matching powder colour can conceal different colour strength or a shade shift on acrylic. Uneven dyeing, insoluble specks and damp, caked powder can make a batch unsuitable for the agreed recipe. Keep the approved dye and substrate samples so arrival testing compares like with like.
A supplier's trade name can conceal a changed formulation. Added diluents can also undermine a suspension claim based on the named colourant and its content. Compare the composition, batch analysis and chemical paperwork before accepting a substitute.
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 basic textile dyes from China?
The supplied tariff lines carry 6% standard duty. Qualifying Basic Red 1, Basic Blue 41 and Basic Violet 1 lines show conditional 0.00 % suspensions. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty is recorded.
Do I need UK REACH registration for basic dyes?
For GB, ask HSE to confirm registration or transitional coverage requirements against your annual imports, including whether the manufacturer's GB only representative covers your imports.
How do I check a basic dye batch before using it?
Compare it with a retained approved dye on your actual acrylic substrate using the same recipe. Check shade, strength, levelness, moisture and insoluble residue.
Does a basic dye automatically qualify for zero duty?
No. Match the exact tariff description, colourant content and suspension footnote. The listed Basic Blue 3 and Basic Blue 159 mixture has 6% duty and no suspension in the supplied data.