Sourcing cyclic olefin copolymer resin from China
Heading 3902 has rates from 0% to 6%, but budget 6% for cyclic olefin copolymer resin if confirmed under the residual line. Confirm with HSE which UK REACH registration requirements or exemptions apply to the polymer, monomers and additives. Match the exact grade to your process. Cambridge China Bridge sources cyclic olefin copolymer resin.
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Budget 6%, subject to classification
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 3902 covers polymers of propylene or other olefins in primary forms. The supplied tariff data has no dedicated cyclic olefin copolymer description. Treat 3902 90 90 99 as a candidate for confirmation from the composition and grade documents. The table shows different applications sharing that candidate code, rather than separate tariff subdivisions.
The candidate line carries 6% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty recorded. It also lists a conditional autonomous suspension at 0%, describing specified poly-alpha-olefins. That entry does not establish relief for cyclic olefin copolymer resin. Confirm the commodity code before costing the order. For the wider heading, see polymethylpentene resin.
The tariff attaches an import waste control and also records an export waste control. Confirm the applicable requirement for the actual material with your customs broker. For waste imported into England under notification controls, the exporter in China must apply to the competent authority in the country of dispatch for consent. Ask the broker to establish the waste status and applicable shipment procedure before dispatch.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cyclic olefin copolymer pellets for optical moulding, classification to confirm | 3902 90 90 99 | 6% | None |
Specify the copolymer and moulded performance
Specify cyclic olefin copolymer rather than accepting an unspecified cyclic olefin polymer substitute. Name the producer and grade, monomer composition, virgin or recycled status, additives and intended moulding or extrusion process. Agree glass transition behaviour, melt flow with its test conditions, light transmission, haze, colour and dimensional performance. Compare moulded samples at the intended thickness and agree storage and processing instructions.
Request the supplier's documented position and a safety data sheet. Chemical hazard classification is also the importer's responsibility. For food-packaging projects, request grade-specific food-contact documentation and agree testing of the finished article. Use testing and certification support to define the evidence needed.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 500 kg of cyclic olefin copolymer pellets; illustrative order, classification to confirm under 3902 90 90 99, invoiced at £18,000 free on board, with £1,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £19,500. Duty at 6% is £1,170. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £20,670, so it is £4,134. Import taxes total £5,304; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,170 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Identity: match bag labels, producer, grade and batch references to the purchase order, datasheet and certificate of analysis.
Optics: mould a sample at the agreed thickness and check haze, colour, black specks and visible flow marks against the approved sample.
Processing: compare melt flow and thermal results using the agreed methods, then check filling, shrinkage and warpage in your tooling.
Packing: inspect seals, damaged bags, fines and foreign pellets; retain labelled samples from each batch. See quality inspection.
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What goes wrong
A visually clear sample can still be the wrong grade. Substitution, undisclosed additives or different test conditions can hide changes in flow and thermal behaviour. Contamination becomes visible in transparent parts, while inconsistent shrinkage can upset fitted laboratory components. Approve a processing trial using material traceable to the proposed production batch.
A generic food-contact statement may describe a different grade or use. Ask for documents that identify the supplied material and intended application. Avoid costing the order at a suspended rate simply because the residual tariff line displays one: the listed product description must be checked against the resin.
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 cyclic olefin copolymer resin from China?
The supplied tariff data gives 6% for candidate code 3902 90 90 99. Confirm classification before ordering; its listed suspension does not establish relief for cyclic olefin copolymer resin.
Does cyclic olefin copolymer resin need UK REACH registration?
Confirm with HSE which registration requirements or exemptions apply to the polymer, monomers and additives. Check the exact composition and documented supply-chain coverage rather than relying on a general supplier statement.
How do I compare a Chinese resin with my current grade?
Compare composition, thermal behaviour, melt flow and optical results using matching test conditions. Run the resin in your tooling and compare parts at the intended thickness.
What should I check when the resin arrives?
Match producer, grade and batch labels to the documents. Inspect bags and pellets, retain batch samples, and check moulded clarity and processing behaviour before releasing material to production.