Sourcing disperse dyes from China
Disperse dyes from China normally carry 6% UK duty; qualifying named colourants have suspensions to 0.00%. For Great Britain, check UK REACH registration arrangements and chemical classification, labels and packaging before supply. Cambridge China Bridge sources disperse dyes.
Disperse dye duty and conditional suspensions
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 5 November 2026, heading 3204 includes synthetic organic colouring matter, with separate lines for disperse dyes and preparations based on them. The supplied disperse-dye lines carry 6% standard duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty recorded. Each also records an autonomous suspension at 0.00%, subject to its product description and footnotes.
Do not treat the suspension as a blanket exemption for commercial blends. The recorded footnotes exclude mixtures, preparations or products made up of different components containing the listed products. The footnote for 3204 11 00 90 is incomplete in the supplied extract, so confirm its full conditions before claiming relief. The tariff also attaches veterinary control and waste import and export controls; ask your customs broker to confirm the requirements for the actual composition and shipment.
The table separates powder and liquid preparations within the same residual code. Confirm chemical identity, colourant content and formulation using finding your commodity code. For other dye families, see textile dyes and organic colourants.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Disperse Blue 360 and preparations with colourant content of 99% or more | 3204 11 00 15 | 6% | None |
| Named disperse dye, chemical identity 63741-10-6 | 3204 11 00 25 | 6% | None |
| Other disperse dye powders and powder preparations | 3204 11 00 90 | 6% | None |
Specify the dye for your polyester process
Specify the Colour Index identity, chemical identity, powder or liquid form, colourant content, dispersant system and intended polyester fabric. Agree a retained standard and a laboratory dyeing recipe using your actual substrate. Define acceptance criteria for shade, relative strength, dispersion, filtration residue and fastness rather than accepting a supplier's colour name alone.
For Great Britain, confirm applicable UK REACH registration responsibilities and any proposed only-representative coverage with HSE. Obtain an English safety data sheet where required. Chemical suppliers must ensure correct labels and packaging before placing substances or mixtures on the market. For skin-contact textiles, confirm applicable azo dye restrictions with HSE and arrange testing on the dyed fabric.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 5 tonnes of disperse dye powder, without suspension relief under 3204 11 00 90, invoiced at £30,000 free on board, with £2,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £32,000. Duty at 6% is £1,920. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £33,920, so it is £6,784. Import taxes total £8,704; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,920 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Identity: match the batch certificate, container labels and agreed chemical identity; check declared colourant content against the purchase specification.
Shade and strength: dye laboratory swatches beside the retained standard using the same fabric and recipe; compare shade and relative strength.
Dispersion: check wetting, sediment, filtration residue and visible specks under the agreed process; inspect powders for moisture and hard caking.
Arrival condition: check seals, liners, leaks and batch references; retain a sample from each lot and compare labels with the safety data sheet.
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What goes wrong
A shade match can conceal weaker colour strength, so a production recipe gives a different result. Poor dispersion leaves specks or deposits on fabric and equipment. Damp powder cakes, while liquid preparations can settle unevenly. A changed dispersant or formulation can alter performance even when the supplier keeps the same product name.
Approve the formulation and laboratory dyeing result before bulk production, then compare the delivered lot with the retained standard before releasing it to the dye house. Keep suspect lots separate while investigating. A supplier's claim of duty-free entry also needs checking against the suspension description and complete footnotes.
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 disperse dyes from China?
The supplied tariff facts show 6% standard duty, with conditional suspensions to 0.00% for qualifying products. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty is recorded for the disperse-dye lines.
Do I need UK REACH registration for disperse dyes?
For Great Britain, confirm applicable UK REACH registration responsibilities and whether any proposed only-representative arrangement covers your imports with HSE. Establish coverage before ordering.
How do I check a disperse dye batch?
Compare laboratory dyeings with a retained standard on your actual polyester fabric. Check shade, relative strength, dispersion, filtration residue and fastness, then match the batch certificate to the containers.
Do the tariff waste controls apply to new dye?
Waste shipment controls apply only if the material is waste. The tariff attaches waste controls to these codes; ask your broker to confirm their application to your shipment, especially recovered or discarded material.