Sourcing ethyl diglycol from China
Diethylene glycol monoethyl ether from China carries 4% UK duty under 2909 44 00 90, with no suspension or trade remedy recorded. For Great Britain, confirm UK REACH registration responsibilities and classify the chemical before supply. Cambridge China Bridge sources diethylene glycol monoethyl ether.
4% duty on diethylene glycol monoethyl ether
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 2909 covers ethers and ether-alcohols among other compounds. Diethylene glycol monoethyl ether falls within the residual line for other monoalkyl ethers of ethylene glycol or diethylene glycol, 2909 44 00 90. The supplied facts contain only this relevant commodity line.
For goods from China, that line carries 4% duty, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measure and no suspension recorded. The tariff attaches an export waste control. It is labelled as an export control; ask your customs broker to confirm the requirement if the consignment involves waste rather than new solvent.
Confirm the substance identity and composition through our commodity-code guide. Do not borrow a suspension from another glycol ether. For the wider heading, see our methyl tert-butyl ether guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diethylene glycol monoethyl ether | 2909 44 00 90 | 4% | None |
Specify identity, purity and water content
Name diethylene glycol monoethyl ether explicitly on the purchase order, analysis certificate and safety data sheet. Agree assay by gas chromatography, water content, colour, acidity and related glycol or ether impurities. Set acceptance criteria for your actual formulation and approve a retained sample before ordering.
For Great Britain, annual imports of a substance at one tonne or more bring UK REACH registration responsibilities. Confirm your UK REACH position before shipment. Chemical suppliers, including importers, are responsible for classification regardless of quantity. A safety data sheet is required when a hazardous chemical is supplied for workplace use.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 1 tonne of diethylene glycol monoethyl ether in drums under 2909 44 00 90, invoiced at £2,500 free on board, with £980 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £3,480. Duty at 4% is £139.20. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £3,619.20, so it is £723.84. Import taxes total £863.04; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £139.20 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Identity: match the chemical name and substance identifier across the order, batch certificate, safety data sheet and drum labels.
Batch analysis: compare independent assay and impurity results with the agreed specification and the certificate for the delivered batch.
Water and colour: test arrival samples against the approved sample and agreed limits; investigate differences before releasing material into production.
Packaging: check seals, leaks, corrosion and batch markings; compare hazard information with the supplier's classification and safety data sheet.
Working out your own order? Send us the product on WhatsApp and we reply the same working day: WhatsApp us
What goes wrong
Similar glycol-ether names can conceal a different substance. Cross-contamination, water pickup and colour variation can also leave a delivered batch outside the agreed specification. A certificate for a different batch does not resolve these problems.
Keep suspect drums separate, retain labelled samples and obtain batch-specific results before use. Agree a sampling plan through our quality inspection guide, including how disputed results will be checked.
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 diethylene glycol monoethyl ether from China?
The supplied tariff facts show 4% under 2909 44 00 90, with no suspension, anti-dumping duty or countervailing duty recorded.
Does importing ethyl diglycol require UK REACH registration?
Annual imports into Great Britain of one tonne or more of a substance bring registration responsibilities. Confirm the registration arrangements covering your imports before shipment.
What should a batch certificate show?
The substance identity, delivered batch, assay, water content, colour, acidity and agreed impurity results, with test methods matching your purchase specification.
Does a small solvent order avoid classification duties?
No. HSE says classification must be carried out regardless of the tonnage, volume or amount supplied. Importers are among the suppliers responsible.