Sourcing Butyl Glycidyl Ether from China

UK duty and the candidate commodity code

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 9 November 2026, heading 2910 covers epoxides and related compounds with a three-membered ring, including epoxyethers. Butyl glycidyl ether is not separately named in the supplied lines. Treat 2910 90 00 90, other epoxides, as a candidate to confirm against the exact substance and composition.

The supplied lines carry 0% duty for goods from China, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no listed suspensions. The candidate line attaches an export control for waste. Ask your customs broker to confirm its relevance to the shipment. In England, waste shipment controls apply only when the material is waste; establish this before buying recovered material.

Confirm the commodity code using the chemical identity, composition and supplier documents. The other table entries are related chemicals for comparison, not alternative names for butyl glycidyl ether. See the wider epoxides guide for the rest of the heading.

Specify the butyl glycidyl ether grade

State the full chemical identity and whether you are buying the substance alone or a formulated blend. Agree purity, epoxy equivalent weight, viscosity, colour, water and hydrolysable chlorine, with a test method for each. Ask for batch results rather than a generic specification. Qualify the sample in your resin formulation before approving the production grade.

For imports into Great Britain reaching one tonne of the substance annually, UK REACH registration responsibilities apply unless an appointed only representative covers them. Obtain evidence of coverage for your supply. Chemical classification is the supplier's responsibility, including importers, regardless of quantity. Hazardous chemicals supplied for workplace use need a safety data sheet.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative only: one tonne of butyl glycidyl ether in drums, subject to code confirmation under 2910 90 00 90, invoiced at £3,500 free on board, with £980 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £4,480. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £4,480, so it is £896. 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 the drum label, invoice, safety data sheet and batch certificate to the agreed butyl glycidyl ether grade and composition.

Analysis: compare purity, water, epoxy equivalent weight, viscosity, colour and hydrolysable chlorine with the approved sample, using the agreed methods.

Packaging: check seals, closures, leaks, corrosion and batch markings before accepting the drums; reconcile the delivered quantity with the packing list.

Process trial: compare the arrival sample with the qualified sample in your resin formulation. Record results and retain a batch sample through your inspection process.

What goes wrong

A supplier's replacement grade can match the product name while differing in epoxy equivalent weight, viscosity or colour. A generic certificate can conceal this difference. Prevent substitutions through the purchase specification and compare the delivered batch with the qualified sample before releasing it to production.

Leaking or corroded drums and inconsistent batch documents create problems at receipt. Check packaging and documents before loading. For recovered material, establish whether it is waste rather than assuming a commercial description settles its status; confirm the applicable shipment requirements with your broker.

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.