Sourcing chlorinated solvents and HFCs from China

Mostly 4%

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 26 September 2026, chlorinated derivatives such as dichloromethane, chloroform, ethylene dichloride, vinyl chloride and tetrachloroethylene, and fluorinated derivatives such as HFC-23, HFC-32, HFC-125 and HFC-134a, carried 4% duty on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure. Dichloromethane had an autonomous suspension to 0% until 31 December 2026, and HFC lines carry an import control for fluorinated greenhouse gases.

Refrigerant blends are classified as mixtures in heading 3827, and ozone-depleting substances such as carbon tetrachloride are banned except for narrow uses; confirm the commodity code.

F-gas quota and REACH limits

GOV.UK guidance says you must get quota to produce or import bulk HFCs into Great Britain, measured in tonnes of CO2 equivalent, and that Great Britain is phasing HFCs down by 79% by 2030 from the 2009 to 2012 baseline. New entrants apply once they import 100 tonnes of CO2 equivalent or more a year, and must register for an F gas account first, so a buyer without quota needs an authorisation from a quota holder.

Entry 59 of Annex XVII to UK REACH restricts paint strippers containing 0.1% or more dichloromethane, with only narrow professional derogations, and chlorinated solvents are hazardous under GB CLP, so safety data sheets, drum labels and dangerous goods paperwork must be right.

Worked duty example

Suppose, purely for illustration, you import 20 tonnes of tetrachloroethylene under 2903 23 00 00. At £21,000 free on board and £3,500 to ship and insure, the customs value is £24,500. Tetrachloroethylene at 4% pay £980 of duty; VAT is then worked out on value plus duty, £25,480, giving £5,096. Of the £6,076 paid at import, only the £980 of duty stays a cost for a VAT-registered business. The method is set out in how UK import duty and VAT work.

What goes wrong

Halogenated solvents and gases fail on purity, stabilisers and legality. Chlorinated solvents without the right stabiliser decompose and turn acidic, attacking metal and drums, and recycled material is supplied against virgin grade. Refrigerant arrives in non-refillable cylinders, which are banned for F-gases used to service refrigeration and air conditioning, or as mislabelled blends, and bulk HFCs imported without quota can be seized and penalised.

Ask for a certificate of analysis per batch including stabiliser and acidity, specify virgin grade, check cylinder type, valves and labelling for gases, confirm your quota or authorisation before shipping HFCs, and check that safety data sheets and UN numbers match the product.

Cambridge China Bridge sources chlorinated solvents and fluorinated gases, with purity, stabilisers, cylinders and quota or authorisation checked before shipment. Read how we source regulated chemicals.