Sourcing diethyl carbonate from China
Diethyl carbonate from China carries 6% UK duty on the named high-purity line; another line lists a conditional 0% suspension, so the potential range is 0% to 6%. Confirm purity, suspension eligibility and the UK REACH route before shipping. Cambridge China Bridge sources diethyl carbonate.
Diethyl carbonate duty depends on the exact line
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 2920 covers esters of other inorganic acids of non-metals and their salts and derivatives. Diethyl carbonate of 99.9% purity by weight or more is listed under 2920 90 10 85, with 6% duty for goods from China, no suspension and no anti-dumping or countervailing measure recorded.
The other-esters line, 2920 90 10 90, has a 6% base duty and a conditional 0% suspension mentioning diethyl carbonate. Its supplied footnote is incomplete and excludes mixtures and preparations. Have your broker confirm the full conditions before claiming it. The tariff also attaches dangerous-chemical export and waste-export controls to these lines; ask your broker to confirm any requirement relevant to your import from China.
Confirm the commodity code using substance identity, composition and measured purity. The comparison rows include related solvents, not alternative names for diethyl carbonate. See the dimethyl carbonate guide for the wider heading.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diethyl carbonate, purity by weight 99.9% or more | 2920 90 10 85 | 6% | None |
| Other carbonic esters, including diethyl carbonate outside the named purity line | 2920 90 10 90 | 6% | None |
| Dimethyl carbonate, related solvent for comparison | 2920 90 10 40 | 6% | None |
| Ethyl methyl carbonate, purity 98% or more, related solvent for comparison | 2920 90 10 33 | 6% | None |
Specify diethyl carbonate by assay and moisture
Specify diethyl carbonate by substance identity, intended use and grade. Agree assay by gas chromatography, water by Karl Fischer titration, acidity, metal impurities and colour, with a test method and acceptance limit for each. Require a certificate of analysis tied to the dispatched batch, rather than accepting a generic battery-grade description.
Agree sealed packing, nitrogen blanketing where specified, sampling arrangements and storage instructions. For Great Britain, settle the UK REACH registration route before ordering: registration applies at one tonne or more per year. If considering only representative coverage, confirm its applicability with HSE or your customs broker. Importers must meet the applicable chemical classification, labelling and packaging duties before placing goods on the market.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 15 tonnes of diethyl carbonate under 2920 90 10 85, invoiced at £21,000 free on board, with £2,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £23,500. Duty at 6% is £1,410. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £24,910, so it is £4,982. Import taxes total £6,392; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,410 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Identity: match the purchase specification, drum labels and batch certificate to diethyl carbonate; check that related carbonate solvents have not been substituted.
Laboratory: independently check assay, moisture, acidity and metals against the agreed limits, and retain a traceable sample for comparison on arrival.
Packing: inspect seals, closures, leaks and damage; check the agreed nitrogen blanketing and packing specification.
Documents: check the English safety data sheet, batch certificate, registration route and classification and labelling records. Use a written inspection brief.
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What goes wrong
A satisfactory assay can hide excessive moisture or metal contamination. Poor sealing can increase water content during shipment, while a generic certificate may describe a different batch. Retest arrival samples against the purchase specification before releasing material into your process.
A supplier may apply another carbonate's suspension to diethyl carbonate or treat the incomplete suspension footnote as blanket relief. Keep purity evidence with the classification decision and obtain broker confirmation before budgeting for zero duty.
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 diethyl carbonate from China?
The named 99.9%-or-more line carries 6%. The other-esters line lists a conditional 0% suspension mentioning diethyl carbonate; confirm eligibility because the supplied footnote is incomplete.
Do I need UK REACH registration for diethyl carbonate?
For Great Britain, registration applies at one tonne or more per year. Confirm your own registration before shipment, or ask HSE or your customs broker whether applicable only representative coverage can cover your imports.
What should a diethyl carbonate certificate of analysis show?
The dispatched batch identity and results for the agreed assay, water, acidity, metals and colour tests, with methods and acceptance limits matching your purchase specification.
Is battery-grade diethyl carbonate enough for my specification?
No. Define measurable impurity and moisture limits for your process, agree sampling and test methods, and verify the actual batch rather than relying on the grade name.