Sourcing beta-naphthol from China

Beta-naphthol duty and suspension

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, beta-naphthol falls under 2907 15 90 10, described as 2-naphthol with substance identifier 135-19-3. Heading 2907 covers phenols and phenol-alcohols. The purchase forms in the table repeat this substance's tariff line; they are not separate commodity codes. See the wider phenols guide for other substances.

The supplied tariff record gives a 4% third-country duty for goods from China and an autonomous suspension to 0%, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measure recorded. For mixtures or preparations, ask your broker to confirm whether the code and suspension apply. The record also attaches an export control for waste; ask your customs broker to confirm its relevance to the proposed shipment.

Confirm the chemical identity, composition and commodity code before ordering. If material is supplied as waste from China for import into England under notification controls, the exporter must apply to the dispatch country's competent authority for consent. Establish the applicable waste requirements before shipping such material.

Specify beta-naphthol identity and assay

Specify beta-naphthol by chemical identity and substance identifier 135-19-3. Agree assay, the test method, alpha-naphthol impurity, water, colour and physical form. Ask for a batch certificate of analysis and a retained sample. For a dye-making process, agree a trial against your own process acceptance criteria rather than relying on a grade name.

For Great Britain, confirm UK REACH registration obligations for your annual import volume with HSE. Registration is per substance and legal entity. Chemical classification is the responsibility of suppliers, including importers. Agree the English safety data sheet, hazard labels and packaging before dispatch.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative trial order: 1 tonne of beta-naphthol in 25 kg bags under 2907 15 90 10, invoiced at £2,500 free on board, with £1,800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £4,300. Duty at 4% is £172. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £4,472, so it is £894.40. Import taxes total £1,066.40; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £172 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Identity: match the order, package labels and batch certificate to beta-naphthol and substance identifier 135-19-3.

Analysis: test assay, isomer impurities, water and colour against the agreed methods and acceptance criteria; retain a batch sample.

Condition: check for wet packaging, broken seals, contamination and unexpected caking or colour differences.

Documents: match batch references across labels and analysis records, and check that the safety data sheet describes the supplied material.

What goes wrong

A supplier quotes naphthol without identifying the isomer, or uses a grade name without agreeing the impurity profile. A satisfactory overall assay can still leave an unwanted isomer or colour outside your process specification. Resolve identity and acceptance criteria before approving the sample.

Damaged liners, moisture or mixed batch references make arrival checks harder. Hold suspect material separately while comparing retained samples and analysis records. A tariff suspension does not replace chemical compliance checks, and a waste shipment needs its own assessment.

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.