Sourcing EMA copolymer pellets from China
Ethylene methyl acrylate copolymer pellets from China have a candidate duty of 6%; heading 3901 spans 0% to 6%. Confirm composition and the UK REACH position for monomers and additives before ordering. The residual line's suspension does not name this copolymer. Cambridge China Bridge sources ethylene methyl acrylate copolymer pellets.
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6% on the candidate residual line
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 3901 covers polymers of ethylene in primary forms. The candidate residual line, 3901 90 80 99, carries 6% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measure recorded. Its 0% suspension names specified styrene and ethylene/butylene block copolymer and ethylene maleic anhydride copolymer products. It does not name ethylene methyl acrylate copolymer pellets.
The tariff attaches import and export waste controls. Waste shipment controls apply only where the material is waste. For pellets offered as recovered material or off-grade stock, ask for evidence of their status and have your customs broker confirm the requirements for the shipment from China before dispatch. The tariff entry alone does not establish which waste procedure applies.
Confirm the commodity code using the producer's monomer composition, additive package and product description. The table includes nearby acid copolymer and terpolymer lines to distinguish different resins; these are not alternative codes for unchanged ethylene methyl acrylate pellets. See the ethylene acrylic acid copolymer guide for related products within the wider heading.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other ethylene polymers: candidate line for ethylene methyl acrylate pellets | 3901 90 80 99 | 6% | None |
| Specified ethylene acrylic acid copolymer: a different resin | 3901 90 80 53 | 6% | None |
| Ethylene methacrylic acid copolymer with acid content of at least 11% | 3901 90 80 67 | 6% | None |
| Ethylene, isobutyl acrylate and methacrylic acid terpolymer pellets | 3901 90 80 75 | 6% | None |
Specify methyl acrylate content and processing behaviour
Specify ethylene methyl acrylate copolymer by its full chemical name and producer grade. Agree methyl acrylate content, melt flow rate and its test conditions, density, melting behaviour, pellet appearance and additive package. State whether virgin resin is required and whether reprocessed material is permitted. Use a retained approved sample and a processing trial to assess film appearance, adhesion or flexibility for your intended application.
Ask HSE to confirm the polymer's UK REACH registration position and whether its monomers or additives require registration or are covered further up the supply chain. Check that position for the actual formulation before importing into Great Britain. A safety data sheet is required when a hazardous chemical is supplied for use at work; review the grade's hazard information before supplying it to business customers.
For food-contact applications, ask for a declaration of compliance identifying the grade and the migration evidence behind it. Give the supplier the intended packaging structure, food type and contact conditions. Agree how formulation changes will be communicated before accepting repeat batches.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: A pallet of ethylene methyl acrylate copolymer pellets for a processing trial, illustrative only under 3901 90 80 99, invoiced at £3,000 free on board, with £1,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £4,500. Duty at 6% is £270. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £4,770, so it is £954. Import taxes total £1,224; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £270 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Identity: check bag labels, producer grade and batch numbers against the order, technical data sheet and batch certificate.
Composition: check methyl acrylate content and declared additives against the agreed specification; investigate any change in resin identity.
Processing: check melt flow under the agreed test conditions and compare a trial film or blend with the retained sample for gels, colour and performance.
Packing: check seals, split bags, loose pellets, contamination and pallet condition on arrival; retain a labelled sample from each batch.
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What goes wrong
Similar resin names cause wrong-grade deliveries. Ethylene acrylic acid, ethylene methacrylic acid and ethylene maleic anhydride copolymers are different products. A supplier's abbreviation can hide that difference. Put the full chemical identity and approved grade on the order, then compare the production documents with the approved sample.
A matching headline melt flow value can conceal different test conditions or a changed comonomer content. Undisclosed reprocessed material, additive changes and contamination can produce gels or alter adhesion and flexibility. Hold a suspect batch separately while you compare its certificate and retained sample with a processing trial.
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 ethylene methyl acrylate pellets from China?
The candidate line 3901 90 80 99 carries 6% duty, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measure recorded. Its suspension does not name this copolymer. Confirm the formulation and code before declaring.
Do ethylene methyl acrylate pellets need UK REACH registration?
Check the actual formulation and supply-chain coverage before importing into Great Britain.
Can I use these pellets for food packaging?
Ask for a grade-specific declaration of compliance and the supporting migration evidence for your intended packaging and contact conditions. Approve the formulation for that use before ordering.
Do recycled pellets trigger waste import controls?
Establish whether the shipment is legally waste. The tariff attaches waste controls, but the entry does not determine the procedure for your material. Ask your customs broker to confirm the China-to-UK requirements before dispatch.