Sourcing ethylbenzene from China
Ethylbenzene from China carries 0% UK duty under 2902 60 00 00, with no recorded anti-dumping or countervailing duty. For supply in Great Britain, importers must ensure correct chemical classification, labelling and packaging, and check UK REACH registration coverage. Cambridge China Bridge sources ethylbenzene.
Ethylbenzene duty and tariff controls
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 5 November 2026, ethylbenzene under 2902 60 00 00 carries 0% duty for goods from China. Heading 2902 covers cyclic hydrocarbons. The ethylbenzene line records no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension.
The UK Trade Tariff attaches an export control labelled 'Export control - Waste'. Ask your customs broker to confirm its relevance and any applicable waste requirements for the proposed consignment.
Confirm the commodity code using the composition and batch analysis. Solvent blends and thinners are classified elsewhere. See the wider cyclic hydrocarbons guide for related products.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ethylbenzene | 2902 60 00 00 | 0% | None |
Ethylbenzene purity and supply documents
Specify ethylbenzene purity, permitted benzene, toluene and xylene impurities, water, colour and distillation range. Agree test methods and acceptance limits with the receiving laboratory. Request a batch certificate of analysis and identify whether the offer is ethylbenzene or a solvent blend.
For Great Britain, check UK REACH registration or only representative coverage before ordering. A GB-based business importing a substance at or above 1 tonne per year must submit a registration to HSE. Importers must check classification, labels and packaging before market supply. Hazardous chemicals supplied for workplace use require a safety data sheet.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 20 tonnes of ethylbenzene in an ISO tank under 2902 60 00 00, invoiced at £18,000 free on board, with £3,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £21,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £21,000, so it is £4,200. With no duty, the only import tax is the VAT, which a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Identity and purity: compare gas chromatography results with the agreed ethylbenzene specification and the certificate for the delivered batch.
Water and appearance: test water and colour against the contract; investigate cloudiness, sediment or a difference from the approved sample.
Tank and seals: check cleaning records, previous cargo information, seal identity and signs of leakage before accepting delivery.
Documents: match the batch identity across the analysis certificate, English safety data sheet, labels and shipping documents.
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What goes wrong
A solvent blend offered as ethylbenzene can fail the agreed purity or impurity limits. Residues from earlier tank cargo can contaminate an otherwise conforming batch. A certificate for a different batch cannot establish the quality of the delivered material.
Agree sampling and laboratory acceptance before loading, retain batch traceability and investigate discrepancies before using the cargo. Use the quality inspection guide to define the inspection brief.
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 ethylbenzene from China?
The supplied tariff record gives 0% under 2902 60 00 00, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension.
Does ethylbenzene need UK REACH registration?
For Great Britain, check registration or only representative coverage. HSE states that a GB-based business importing a substance at or above 1 tonne per year must submit a registration.
What should an ethylbenzene specification include?
Specify purity, benzene, toluene and xylene impurities, water, colour and distillation range. Agree test methods and acceptance limits, then require batch-specific analysis.
Do I need a safety data sheet for ethylbenzene?
Yes. Hazardous chemicals supplied for workplace use require a safety data sheet. Request an English version and match its product identity to the analysis certificate and delivered batch.