Sourcing butyl rubber sheets from China

UK duty on butyl rubber sheets

Heading 4008 covers vulcanised rubber other than hard rubber in sheet, strip and related forms. Solid butyl sheet other than flooring falls within the description of 4008 21 90 00; cellular sheet and floor coverings have separate lines. Cut gaskets and seals are covered by heading 4016, as explained in the site's rubber sheet guide.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, the supplied lines carry 2% duty for goods from China. The tariff data lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control. This describes the tariff entries, rather than confirming compliance for every finished application.

Confirm the supplied form and intended use through finding your commodity code. The table separates solid sheet and strip descriptions under the same code. For wider heading coverage, see solid EPDM rubber sheets.

Compound identity and sealing specification

Specify butyl rubber rather than accepting a generic black rubber sheet description. Ask the factory to identify the polymer, any blend, filler package and recycled content. Agree solid or cellular construction, thickness and width tolerances, roll length, surface finish and batch identification against an approved sample.

For sealing or barrier use, agree compression behaviour, recovery and a leakage or permeability test suited to your assembly. Give the factory the service fluid, temperature conditions, mating surfaces and joining method. Request results for the proposed compound rather than treating a hardness result as proof of sealing performance.

UK REACH restrictions can limit or prohibit substances in articles. For rubber parts intended for prolonged or repeated skin contact, confirm with HSE whether the PAH restrictions under entry 50 apply to the intended use. Request compound-specific evidence; appearance and smell do not establish compliance.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 20 tonnes of solid butyl rubber sheet for a sheet-stock distributor under 4008 21 90 00, invoiced at £40,000 free on board, with £3,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £43,000. Duty at 2% is £860. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £43,860, so it is £8,772. Import taxes total £9,632; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £860 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Compound: match batch records and test reports to the approved butyl formulation; compare hardness, tensile strength, elongation and density with the agreed data sheet.

Dimensions: measure thickness across the width and along sampled rolls; check width, usable length, edge condition and flatness against the purchase specification.

Sealing: test material from production in the intended joint or assembly; check compression recovery, leakage and compatibility with the actual service medium.

Surface and packing: inspect for pinholes, inclusions, bloom, creases and sticking between layers; check roll distortion and retain labelled batch samples. See quality inspection explained.

What goes wrong

A sheet sold simply as butyl may arrive with an undisclosed blend or filler change. It can match the sample's colour and hardness while failing the buyer's barrier or sealing test. Compare production material with the approved formulation and test the performance that matters in the final assembly.

Uneven thickness, pinholes and permanent creases can undermine sealing or usable yield. Agree defect acceptance criteria and the inspection method before production. Keep application tests separate from chemical compliance evidence, and request testing and certification support where needed.

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.