Sourcing biodiesel from China: anti-dumping duty
Biodiesel and fatty-acid mono-alkyl esters (FAME) from China, pure or blended, pay 6.5% UK duty, and most lines also carry anti-dumping duty on Chinese goods: 54.64% for exporters without their own rate, with lower rates for named and cooperating exporters. The tariff notes that sustainable aviation fuel is excluded from the measure. Buyers check the exporter's rate before contracting.
6.5% duty plus anti-dumping duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 28 September 2026, heading 3826 covers biodiesel and mixtures containing less than 70% petroleum oils. The FAME and blend lines carried 6.5% and the other line 6% on goods from China. The FAME and blend lines also carried an anti-dumping duty on goods of Chinese origin of 54.64% for all other exporters, with separate rates for named producers and non-sampled cooperating exporters declared with additional codes, and the tariff records that sustainable aviation fuel is excluded from the measure.
The anti-dumping rate depends on who made the goods, so ask for the producer's name and confirm its rate and additional code before signing. Anti-dumping duty is charged on the customs value on top of customs duty, and import VAT is charged on the total.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Suspension or relief | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FAME mixture (C12 to C18, as described), not consigned from Canada | 3826 00 10 29 | 6.5% | — | 54.64% residual; lower rates for named exporters |
| FAME mixture (C8 and C10, as described), not consigned from Canada | 3826 00 10 59 | 6.5% | — | 54.64% residual; lower rates for named exporters |
| Other fatty-acid mono-alkyl esters, 96.5% or more, not consigned from Canada | 3826 00 10 99 | 6.5% | — | 54.64% residual; lower rates for named exporters |
| Blends with more than 20% FAMAE, not consigned from Canada | 3826 00 90 19 | 6.5% | — | 54.64% residual; lower rates for named exporters |
| Blends with 20% or less FAMAE | 3826 00 90 33 | 6.5% | — | 54.64% residual; lower rates for named exporters |
| Other biodiesel and mixtures | 3826 00 90 90 | 6% | — | None |
Specification and documents
Specify the standard the fuel must meet, such as BS EN 14214 for FAME, feedstock, sustainability evidence your customer requires, cold filter plugging point, water and contamination limits, and delivery by tanker or flexitank. Ask for a certificate of analysis per lot from an independent laboratory.
Fuel supplied for road transport in the UK sits within renewable fuel reporting schemes, so confirm with the customer what sustainability and chain of custody evidence they need before buying.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 500 tonnes of FAME under 3826 00 10 99 from a producer without its own rate, invoiced at £400,000 free on board with £30,000 of freight and insurance. The customs value is £430,000. Duty at 6.5% is £27,950.00 and anti-dumping duty at 54.64% is £234,952.00. Import VAT at 20% on the total is £138,580.40. The anti-dumping duty alone is more than half the value, which is why the producer's rate decides whether the trade works. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Analysis: check the certificate against the fuel standard.
Producer: check the name and additional code for the anti-dumping rate.
Loading: check tank cleanliness and seals. See our quality inspection guide.
What goes wrong
Biodiesel imports fail on the anti-dumping rate and evidence. The producer is not the named exporter the price assumed, so 54.64% applies, sustainability evidence is missing, and fuel fails the standard on arrival.
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 biodiesel from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 28 September 2026, FAME and blend lines carried 6.5% duty plus anti-dumping duty of 54.64% for exporters without their own rate.
Do some Chinese exporters have lower anti-dumping rates?
Yes. Named producers and non-sampled cooperating exporters have their own rates, declared with additional codes.
Is sustainable aviation fuel covered?
The tariff records that sustainable aviation fuel is excluded from the anti-dumping measure.
How is anti-dumping duty charged?
On the customs value, on top of customs duty; import VAT is charged on the total.