Sourcing glutaric acid from China

Glutaric acid duty and classification

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 2917 covers polycarboxylic acids and their anhydrides, halides, peroxides, peroxyacids and specified derivatives. For glutaric acid, check the residual acyclic line 2917 19 80 90 against the actual composition. The supplied tariff has no separately named glutaric-acid line.

That line has a 6% base duty for goods from China and no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty. Its 0.00 % suspension names dimethyl butynedioate and ethylene brassylate, rather than glutaric acid. The tariff also attaches an export control for waste. Waste shipment controls apply only to waste; ask your customs broker to confirm the relevance and requirements for your consignment.

Confirm the chemical identity, composition and presentation before using the commodity-code guide. For the wider heading, see the succinic acid guide. Do not apply a neighbouring chemical's suspension to glutaric acid.

Specify glutaric acid identity and assay

Specify glutaric acid itself, rather than glutaraldehyde or a mixed dibasic-acid product. Agree the assay, whether results are reported on a dry or supplied basis, moisture, colour, insoluble matter and relevant organic impurities. Require the factory to identify its analytical methods and provide a certificate of analysis for the actual batch.

Agree crystal or powder presentation, particle size where it matters to your process, inner-liner material and sealed outer packaging. Compare a retained approval sample with the delivered material. A grade name alone does not define acceptable impurity levels.

For Great Britain, importers are responsible for chemical classification, and substances must be labelled and packaged correctly before being placed on the market. Ask HSE to confirm UK REACH registration responsibilities for your planned annual imports and supply arrangement. A safety data sheet is required when a hazardous chemical is supplied for workplace use.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative pilot stock order of glutaric acid in 25 kg bags; values are illustrative under 2917 19 80 90, invoiced at £3,500 free on board, with £980 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £4,480. Duty at 6% is £268.80. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £4,748.80, so it is £949.76. Import taxes total £1,218.56; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £268.80 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Identity: match the purchase specification, bag description and batch certificate to glutaric acid; investigate any mixed-acid description.

Analysis: compare batch assay, moisture, colour and impurity results with the agreed methods and acceptance limits.

Packaging: check liners, seals, staining, leakage and unexpected clumping; record affected bags before sampling.

Documents: match batch identifiers across bags and certificates, check classification and labelling, and obtain the applicable safety data sheet.

What goes wrong

A mixed dibasic-acid material may be offered against an enquiry for glutaric acid. A generic certificate may describe a different batch, while assay results on different moisture bases can appear to agree. Ask for batch-specific analysis and investigate unexplained differences before releasing stock.

Damaged liners, unexpected clumping or colour differences warrant checks against the approved sample. Put disputed material aside until identity and specification are resolved. Another avoidable mistake is claiming the residual line's suspension without checking the named substance.

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.