Sourcing fatty acids and alcohols from China
Industrial fatty acids, acid oils and fatty alcohols under heading 3823 from China carry 0% UK duty throughout the supplied tariff lines. Before sale in Great Britain, importers must meet chemical classification, labelling and packaging duties. Cambridge China Bridge sources industrial fatty acids and alcohols.
Duty on industrial fatty acids and alcohols
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 17 November 2026, heading 3823 covers industrial monocarboxylic fatty acids, acid oils from refining and industrial fatty alcohols. Every supplied commodity line carries 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspensions or attached import controls.
The table selects non-feed industrial materials. Several fatty acid branches distinguish specified carbon-chain compositions and iodine values from other grades. Match the full composition and intended use before choosing a line, using finding your commodity code. This guide focuses on chemical raw materials for industrial use.
The absence of attached tariff controls does not settle chemical compliance. Check your UK REACH registration responsibilities before ordering. Registration is assessed per substance and legal entity. For sale in Great Britain, ensure correct chemical classification, labelling and packaging; hazardous chemicals supplied for use at work need safety data sheets.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stearic acid, non-feed, other | 3823 11 00 80 | 0% | None |
| Oleic acid, non-feed, other | 3823 12 00 80 | 0% | None |
| Tall oil fatty acids, non-feed | 3823 13 00 90 | 0% | None |
| Distilled fatty acids, non-feed, other | 3823 19 10 80 | 0% | None |
| Other fatty acid distillates, non-feed | 3823 19 30 89 | 0% | None |
| Other industrial fatty acids and acid oils, non-feed, other | 3823 19 90 98 | 0% | None |
| Industrial fatty alcohols, non-feed | 3823 70 00 90 | 0% | None |
Specify composition and processing behaviour
Specify the feedstock origin, fatty acid or alcohol composition, physical form and intended process. For stearic and distilled fatty acids, agree the acid value, iodine value, moisture, colour and solidification behaviour. For oleic acid, agree the fatty acid profile and oxidation checks. For fatty alcohols, specify the chain distribution, hydroxyl value and residual moisture.
For acid oils and fatty acid distillates, agree free fatty acid content, unsaponifiable matter, sediment and water. Set acceptance criteria and test methods in the purchase specification. Ask for a batch certificate of analysis and a retained sample, then trial the material in your formulation before approving bulk supply.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 5 tonnes of non-feed stearic acid, other; illustrative order under 3823 11 00 80, invoiced at £3,000 free on board, with £2,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £5,500. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £5,500, so it is £1,100. 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: match the batch certificate, container labels and purchase specification; verify composition against a representative sample.
Condition: check colour, odour, moisture and sediment against the agreed criteria; inspect flakes or beads for contamination and excessive caking.
Packaging: check seals, liners, drum closures and evidence of leakage or water ingress; reconcile delivered weight with shipment documents.
Documents: check the safety data sheet, chemical classification and applicable labels, together with your UK REACH position. Plan sampling through our quality inspection guide.
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What goes wrong
A trade name can conceal a different chain distribution or feedstock blend. Material may meet an overall acid value while missing the composition needed for your process. Excess water, sediment or oxidation can affect odour, colour and formulation behaviour; damaged liners can contaminate otherwise acceptable material.
Agree how disputed results will be checked, including sampling and laboratory methods. Keep an approved reference sample and compare each shipment with it. Use factory verification to check the manufacturer's blending, segregation and batch-testing arrangements.
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 fatty acids from China?
All supplied lines under heading 3823 carry 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty.
Do industrial fatty acids need UK REACH checks?
Yes. Check your registration responsibilities for the actual substances before ordering. Registration is assessed per substance and legal entity, rather than by the supplier's trade name.
What should I test in a stearic acid shipment?
Check fatty acid composition, acid value, iodine value, moisture, colour and solidification behaviour against agreed methods and limits. Match the results to the delivered batch.
Does zero duty mean I can sell the material immediately?
No. For sale in Great Britain, ensure correct chemical classification, labelling and packaging. Hazardous chemicals supplied for use at work need safety data sheets.