Sourcing boiled linseed oil from China
Boiled linseed oil under the modified-oil line carries 6% UK duty from China; technical mixed vegetable oils carry 2% to 4% with end-use authorisation. Specify the formulation and processing before choosing a code, and check chemical classification before sale in Great Britain. Cambridge China Bridge sources boiled linseed oil.
Duty depends on the oil formulation
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 1518 covers boiled and otherwise chemically modified oils, together with certain inedible oil mixtures. The modified-oil line 1518 00 91 80 carries 6% duty from China, with no trade remedy or suspension recorded. The table includes comparison lines for mixtures; they are not interchangeable classifications for boiled linseed oil.
Technical fluid mixed vegetable oils carry 2% if crude and 4% otherwise, subject to end-use authorisation. Other inedible oil mixtures carry 6%. Biodiesel blend lines elsewhere in the heading carry 54.64% residual anti-dumping duty. The used-cooking-oil suspension does not provide relief for ordinary boiled linseed oil. See the wider modified-oils guide.
The tariff attaches waste controls to the selected lines, and veterinary and CITES controls to the modified-oil and other-preparation lines; the modified-oil line also lists seal-product controls. Ask your customs broker to confirm the requirements for the actual formulation from China. For waste entering England under notification controls, the exporter must seek consent from the dispatch country's competent authority. Confirm classification using finding your commodity code.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boiled or chemically modified linseed oil, other | 1518 00 91 80 | 6% | None |
| Fluid mixed vegetable oils for technical use, other | 1518 00 39 00 | 4% | None |
| Fluid mixed vegetable oils for technical use, crude | 1518 00 31 00 | 2% | None |
| Other inedible oil mixtures or preparations | 1518 00 99 90 | 6% | None |
Specify the oil, driers and drying behaviour
Ask the factory to describe how its boiled linseed oil is processed and disclose the complete formulation, including added driers, solvents and other oils. Specify its intended use, such as timber finishing or coatings manufacture. Agree colour, viscosity, acid value, moisture, sediment and drying behaviour against an approved sample.
For sale in Great Britain, substances and mixtures must be classified and labelled under the chemical classification rules. Check whether the imported substances have UK REACH registration obligations. Request a safety data sheet matching the formulation, and agree application, storage and used-cloth handling instructions before approving the packaging.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative wholesale order: 40 tonnes of boiled linseed oil under 1518 00 91 80, invoiced at £52,000 free on board, with £4,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £56,000. Duty at 6% is £3,360. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £59,360, so it is £11,872. Import taxes total £15,232; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £3,360 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step. This assumes the goods are standard-rated for VAT. Most food for human consumption is zero-rated, and animal feed can be too, in which case no import VAT is due, so check the rate for your product in HMRC's VAT Notice 701/14.
Inspection checklist
Identity: compare the batch analysis and ingredient declaration with the approved formulation and processing description.
Drying: apply the delivery sample to the agreed substrate under recorded conditions; compare tack, appearance and drying behaviour with the approved sample.
Condition: check colour, viscosity, sediment and moisture against the purchase specification; retain a sealed batch sample.
Packing: check closures, leaks, container compatibility, batch identification and agreement between the label and safety data sheet.
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What goes wrong
A shared product name can hide different formulations. Changed driers, undisclosed dilution or a different oil blend can produce a finish that remains tacky or changes colour. Treat any formulation change as a reason to reassess the sample, classification and documents.
Leaking closures and sediment can make otherwise usable oil unsuitable for dispatch to customers. Hold affected batches while checking the cause, and compare delivery samples with retained factory samples. Plan acceptance checks using quality inspection explained.
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 boiled linseed oil from China?
The modified-oil line 1518 00 91 80 carries 6%. Technical mixed vegetable oils carry 2% or 4% with end-use authorisation. Confirm the formulation before selecting the line.
Does boiled linseed oil carry anti-dumping duty?
No trade remedy is recorded for 1518 00 91 80. Biodiesel blend lines elsewhere in the heading carry 54.64% residual anti-dumping duty; disclose any blend ingredients.
What should I ask a Chinese boiled linseed oil factory?
Ask for the processing method, complete formulation, drier and solvent details, batch analysis, matching safety data sheet and a sample for a drying trial on your intended substrate.
Do I need to check UK chemical rules before selling it?
Yes. Check classification and labelling for the Great Britain market and whether UK REACH registration obligations apply to the imported substances. Match the documents to the actual formulation.