Sourcing ethyl acrylate from China

Ethyl acrylate duty and classification

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 19 October 2026, ethyl acrylate falls within heading 2916 under other esters of acrylic acid, code 2916 12 00 90. The table shows purchasing formats and uses within that same tariff line, rather than separate commodity codes. Confirm the substance identity and composition using the commodity code guide.

The duty for ethyl acrylate from China is 6%. The supplied line shows no anti-dumping or countervailing duty. Its autonomous suspensions name other acrylic esters, not ethyl acrylate. Do not apply their relief to an ethyl acrylate order. See the related acrylic ester guide for the wider heading context.

The tariff attaches an export control for waste. Waste shipment controls apply only where the material is waste. If a proposed consignment is waste or its status is uncertain, confirm the requirements for the China shipment with your customs broker before ordering.

Specify ethyl acrylate grade and inhibitor

Specify ethyl acrylate by its full substance name and intended process. Agree assay, water, acidity, colour, impurity profile and inhibitor identity and content with the factory. Set acceptance limits from your process needs rather than accepting a supplier's general claim of industrial grade.

Require batch analysis, agreed sampling methods and written storage and transport conditions. Confirm the UK REACH registration position before purchase, particularly for imports above one tonne annually. For supply in Great Britain, chemical labelling and packaging must be correct before the product reaches the market. Hazardous chemicals supplied for workplace use require a safety data sheet.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 15 tonnes of ethyl acrylate in drums under 2916 12 00 90, 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 order, batch analysis, safety data sheet and drum labels to ethyl acrylate, not ethyl methacrylate or another acrylic ester.

Composition: compare assay, water, acidity, colour and inhibitor results with the agreed specification; arrange independent checks where the batch evidence is incomplete.

Drums: check closures, seals, leakage and damage on arrival; reconcile batch markings and delivered quantity with the packing records.

Stability: review transport condition records against the agreed limits and investigate thickening or gel formation before releasing the batch for use.

What goes wrong

Acrylates can polymerise when inhibitor content is inadequate or the consignment overheats. A batch certificate that omits inhibitor results leaves a material gap in acceptance evidence. Agree the inhibitor specification and transport conditions before dispatch, then compare arrival checks with those records.

Similar chemical names can cause substitution or paperwork errors. Ethyl methacrylate is a different product, and a suspension for another acrylic ester does not establish relief for ethyl acrylate. Hold a mismatched delivery pending identity checks rather than accepting it against the original order.

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.