Glycol ethers and other ethers from China
Ethers from China, such as diethylene glycol, glycol ethers, diphenyl ether and organic peroxides of heading 2909, mostly pay 4% UK duty with no anti-dumping duty, but butyl glycol and butyl diglycol are 0% until the end of 2026 and many listed ethers to 2028. Some glycol ethers are reprotoxic, and PBDEs are banned. Cambridge China Bridge sources them.
Glycol ethers, diethylene glycol and other ethers from China mostly pay 4% UK duty; butyl glycol is 0% to end 2026. CMR limits, purity checks and an example.
4%, with suspensions
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 26 September 2026, ethers, ether-alcohols, ether-phenols, ether peroxides and similar compounds of heading 2909 carried 4% on goods from China on most lines; residual lines carried 0% for listed pharmaceutical substances and 4% otherwise, and a few lines were 0%. No line had an anti-dumping measure.
From 14 April 2025 to 31 December 2026 the whole line for monobutyl ethers of ethylene glycol or diethylene glycol (2909 43 00 00), that is butyl glycol and butyl diglycol, is suspended to 0%, and 2-propoxyethanol (2909 44 00 10) to 2028. Many named ethers on residual lines are suspended to 2028 with document code 9Y12. Diethylene glycol (2909 41 00 00) and most propylene glycol ethers stay at 4%.
Plain glycols are in our glycols guide and ketone solvents in our acetone and ketone solvents guide; confirm the commodity code with the CAS number.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diethyl ether | 2909 11 00 00 | 4% | None |
| Diethylene glycol | 2909 41 00 00 | 4% | None |
| Monobutyl ethers of ethylene or diethylene glycol (butyl glycol, butyl diglycol) | 2909 43 00 00 | 0% to 31 Dec 2026 (standard 4%) | None |
| Other monoalkyl ethers of ethylene or diethylene glycol | 2909 44 00 90 | 4% | None |
| Other ether-alcohols, such as propylene glycol ethers | 2909 49 80 90 | 0% pharmaceutical / 4% other; listed substances 0% to 2028 | None |
Reprotoxic ethers and banned flame retardants
Some glycol ethers, such as 2-methoxyethanol and 2-ethoxyethanol, are classified toxic for reproduction, so entries 28 to 30 of Annex XVII of UK REACH stop them being supplied to the general public above set concentrations; check the classification on the safety data sheet before choosing a solvent for a consumer product.
Tetra-, penta-, hexa-, hepta- and decabromodiphenyl ethers are persistent organic pollutants restricted under retained Regulation (EU) 2019/1021, so they should not be ordered. Imports of one tonne or more a year of other ethers need a UK REACH position.
Specifying solvents
Glycol ethers and diethylene glycol are bought on purity by gas chromatography, water, colour, acidity and, for diethylene glycol, monoethylene glycol and triethylene glycol content. Most are flammable liquids shipped under dangerous goods rules in drums, IBCs or ISO tanks, so the UN number and packing group on the safety data sheet decide the packaging.
Worked duty example
Suppose, purely for illustration, you import 40 tonnes of diethylene glycol in drums under 2909 41 00 00. At £30,000 free on board and £3,000 to ship and insure, the customs value is £33,000. Diethylene glycol at 4% pay £1,320 of duty; VAT is then worked out on value plus duty, £34,320, giving £6,864. Of the £8,184 paid at import, only the £1,320 of duty stays a cost for a VAT-registered business. The method is set out in how UK import duty and VAT work.
Inspection checklist
Purity: test assay and related glycols or ethers by gas chromatography on samples from several drums or the tank, against the certificate of analysis for the lot.
Water and colour: measure water by the Karl Fischer method, for example as in ISO 760, and colour on the platinum-cobalt scale to ISO 6271, and check acidity against the specification.
Packing and labels: check drums and IBCs are UN-marked for the dangerous goods class on the safety data sheet, sealed and labelled with lot and hazard pictograms, and that tank cleaning certificates come with bulk loads.
What goes wrong
Ether solvents fail on purity, cross-contamination and classification. Diethylene glycol carries too much mono- or triethylene glycol, glycol ethers pick up water or colour in poorly cleaned tanks, a cheaper reprotoxic glycol ether is substituted for a safer one, and drums arrive without dangerous goods marks or an English safety data sheet.
Test the first lot in a UK laboratory, specify tank cleaning and packing, and check the CAS number and classification on every document. See our quality inspection guide.
Cambridge China Bridge sources glycol ethers, diethylene glycol and other ethers for coatings, cleaning and chemical businesses, usually by the full container. See container programmes.
Related guides: Cellulose ethers, HPMC and CMC from China and Epichlorohydrin and epoxides from China.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on butyl glycol from China?
Monobutyl ethers of ethylene or diethylene glycol (2909 43 00 00) are suspended to 0% until 31 December 2026; the standard rate is 4%.
What duty applies to diethylene glycol?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 26 September 2026, diethylene glycol (2909 41 00 00) carried 4% from China.
Can I sell any glycol ether to consumers?
No. Reprotoxic glycol ethers such as 2-methoxyethanol are restricted for the general public by UK REACH Annex XVII.
Are brominated diphenyl ethers allowed?
No. PBDEs are persistent organic pollutants restricted under Regulation 2019/1021.