Sourcing ethyl methyl carbonate from China
Ethyl methyl carbonate from China has a 6% base UK duty, suspended to 0% for the named substance with purity by weight of 98% or more. The suspension excludes mixtures. Great Britain buyers should confirm the applicable UK REACH registration route and chemical labelling responsibilities with HSE before shipment. Cambridge China Bridge sources ethyl methyl carbonate.
Ethyl methyl carbonate duty and suspension
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. Ethyl methyl carbonate, chemical identity 623-53-0, with purity by weight of 98% or more has the named line 2920 90 10 33. The table also shows related carbonate solvents for comparison; they are separate substances.
The named line carries 6% duty for goods from China, with an autonomous suspension to 0%. The suspension excludes mixtures, preparations and products made up of different components containing the substance. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty is recorded. The tariff attaches dangerous-chemical export and waste-export controls; confirm their relevance to the consignment with your customs broker. HSE states that there are no prior informed consent notification obligations for imports.
Confirm the commodity code using the chemical identity, composition and batch assay before claiming the suspension. Recheck the measure when entering the goods. For the wider heading and a related solvent, see diethyl carbonate sourcing.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ethyl methyl carbonate, purity by weight of 98% or more | 2920 90 10 33 | 6% | None |
| Dimethyl carbonate, related electrolyte solvent | 2920 90 10 40 | 6% | None |
| Ethylene carbonate, purity by weight of 99% or more | 2920 90 10 45 | 6% | None |
| Diethyl carbonate, purity by weight of 99.9% or more | 2920 90 10 85 | 6% | None |
Specify purity and moisture for your process
Specify ethyl methyl carbonate rather than a formulated electrolyte. Agree assay by gas chromatography, water content, acidity, metal impurities, colour and the test methods. Ask for a certificate of analysis tied to the production batch. A tariff purity threshold does not establish suitability for your battery or laboratory process.
Agree sealed, nitrogen-blanketed packing, sampling arrangements and storage instructions. For Great Britain, confirm with HSE the UK REACH registration responsibilities applicable to your annual substance imports and whether an only representative covers them. Confirm that route before ordering. Chemical classification is required regardless of the quantity supplied; confirm the applicable GB chemical labelling and packaging requirements with HSE.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 1 tonne of ethyl methyl carbonate meeting the named purity threshold, illustrative only under 2920 90 10 33, invoiced at £2,500 free on board, with £980 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £3,480. Duty at 6% is £208.80. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £3,688.80, so it is £737.76. Import taxes total £946.56; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £208.80 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Identity: match the order, container labels and batch certificate to ethyl methyl carbonate and the declared composition.
Analysis: independently check assay, water by Karl Fischer titration, acidity and metals against your agreed limits. Retest an arrival sample before releasing it into production.
Packing: inspect seals, closures, leaks and batch markings. Check that the agreed nitrogen protection and packing specification were followed.
Documents: check the English safety data sheet, chemical labels and UK REACH coverage against the actual supplied substance. See quality inspection explained.
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What goes wrong
An assay-only purchase can miss moisture, acidity or metal contamination. Poor sealing can raise water content during transport. A certificate from a different batch gives little assurance about the material delivered. Quarantine suspect containers and arrange representative testing before use.
A supplier may offer a blended electrolyte against an order for the individual solvent. That changes the composition and prevents use of this substance's suspension for the mixture. Keep the agreed composition, batch evidence and declaration instructions consistent.
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 ethyl methyl carbonate from China?
The named line 2920 90 10 33 has 6% base duty, suspended to 0% for ethyl methyl carbonate with purity by weight of 98% or more. The suspension excludes mixtures.
Does battery-grade ethyl methyl carbonate need separate checks?
Yes. Agree water, acidity and metal impurity limits for your process, alongside assay. Ask for batch analysis and independently test an arrival sample.
Do I need UK REACH registration for ethyl methyl carbonate?
For Great Britain, confirm with HSE which UK REACH registration responsibilities apply to your annual imports of the substance and whether an only representative covers your obligations. Confirm coverage before ordering.
Can an electrolyte mixture use the same duty suspension?
No. The suspension expressly excludes mixtures, preparations and products made up of different components containing ethyl methyl carbonate. Confirm the mixture's own classification.