Sourcing glyoxylic acid from China

Glyoxylic acid duty and classification

Heading 2918 covers carboxylic acids with additional oxygen function and their derivatives. The supplied glyoxylic acid line is 2918 30 00 14, for chemical identity 298-12-4, dry-weight purity of at least 95%, and solid material or aqueous solution with concentration by weight higher than 40%. The table separates purchasing forms and uses under this same supplied tariff line; they are not separate commodity codes.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, the supplied line carries 6% duty for goods from China, with no recorded anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. The tariff attaches an export control for waste. Waste shipment controls apply only where the material is waste; for waste material from China, confirm the applicable requirements with your customs broker before shipment.

Give your broker the chemical identity, full composition, physical form, concentration and batch analysis to confirm the commodity code. Do not assume material outside the supplied purity or concentration description uses this code. For the wider heading, see salicylic acid from China.

Specify concentration, purity and impurities

Write separate acceptance criteria for glyoxylic acid concentration in the delivered solution and purity on a dry-weight basis. State whether you need solid material or an aqueous solution. Agree the assay method, reporting basis, appearance and limits for impurities such as glyoxal and oxalic acid. Ask for a batch certificate of analysis and a representative sample for your process trial.

For Great Britain, confirm UK REACH registration requirements and any applicable exemptions with the Health and Safety Executive for your substance identity and annual import quantities. Chemical suppliers, including importers, are responsible for classification, and supplied chemicals must be correctly labelled and packaged. A safety data sheet is required when a hazardous chemical is supplied for use at work. Settle these responsibilities before ordering.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative trial order: one tonne of glyoxylic acid aqueous solution under 2918 30 00 14, invoiced at £2,500 free on board, with £980 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £3,480. Duty at 6% is £208.80. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £3,688.80, so it is £737.76. Import taxes total £946.56; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £208.80 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Identity: match the ordered chemical identity, form and batch number against the labels, certificate of analysis and safety data sheet.

Assay: check delivered concentration and dry-weight purity separately, using the agreed methods and reporting basis.

Impurities: test the agreed glyoxal and oxalic acid limits; compare appearance and clarity with the approved sample.

Packaging: inspect closures, seals and containers for leakage or damage; confirm batch identification and correct labels before accepting stock.

What goes wrong

A concentration result can be mistaken for a purity result, leaving the buyer with a different specification from the one intended. Other failure points include an analysis certificate that does not identify the delivered batch, untested impurity claims, and leaking closures. A laboratory-use description alone does not establish suitability for your process.

Agree the analysis basis before approving the sample, then compare arrival results with the batch certificate. Hold leaking, misidentified or out-of-specification stock apart while you investigate. Keep a retained sample so the factory and your laboratory can assess the same batch.

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.