Sourcing bromobutyl rubber from China

0% duty on bromobutyl rubber

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, bromobutyl rubber in primary forms or uncompounded plates, sheets or strip falls within heading 4002, under the halobutyl line 4002 39 00 00. Goods from China carry 0% duty. The supplied record shows no anti-dumping duty, countervailing duty or suspension on this line. The table repeats this code for different supplied forms.

The UK Trade Tariff attaches waste import and export controls to this line. For waste imported into England under notification controls, the exporter must apply to the competent authority in the dispatch country for consent. For material from China described as scrap, recovered stock or waste, ask your customs broker to confirm the applicable control and paperwork before shipment.

Rubber already mixed with fillers or curatives is compounded rubber of heading 4005. Confirm the commodity code using composition and processing details, rather than the supplier's trade name alone. See the wider butyl rubber guide for related materials.

Specify bromine content and cure behaviour

Specify bromobutyl rubber explicitly, with the manufacturer, grade designation and intended compound. Agree bromine content, Mooney viscosity, volatile matter, ash and the stabiliser package. Request the technical data sheet and a batch certificate of analysis. Set acceptance criteria with your compounder and compare a sample in the recipe you actually use.

Confirm with HSE whether the polymer is exempt from UK REACH registration and whether monomers or additives have separate registration obligations. Check these before ordering. For supply in Great Britain, substances and mixtures must be labelled and packaged correctly before being placed on the market. A safety data sheet is required when a hazardous chemical is supplied for workplace use. Have a chemical adviser review the grade's hazard classification.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative trial order: 2,000 kg of bromobutyl rubber in bales under 4002 39 00 00, invoiced at £8,400 free on board, with £2,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £10,400. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £10,400, so it is £2,080. With no duty, the only import tax is the VAT, which a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Identity: match bale labels, manufacturer, grade and batch references to the order and certificate of analysis. Check that the material is bromobutyl rather than ordinary butyl or chlorobutyl rubber.

Composition and viscosity: sample across the shipment and compare bromine content, Mooney viscosity, volatile matter and ash with the agreed specification.

Cure behaviour: mix the agreed trial recipe and compare the cure curve and resulting properties with the approved sample before releasing the batch to production.

Packing and condition: check wrapping integrity, contamination, bale adhesion, cold flow and net weight. Record arrival condition and retain labelled samples. Use the inspection guide to agree reporting.

What goes wrong

A familiar trade name can conceal a different manufacturer or grade. Changes in bromine content or Mooney viscosity can change processing and cure behaviour. A certificate showing typical values does not establish the results for the delivered batch. Approve the actual grade in your compounder's recipe and require batch-specific results.

Cold flow can leave bales stuck together or against damaged packing, while torn wrapping introduces dirt into the compound. Agree the wrapping material, storage conditions and how suspect bales will be isolated. Keep each batch identifiable through receipt, sampling and production.

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.