Sourcing gum rosin and ester gums from China

0% duty

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 27 September 2026, heading 3806 covers rosin and resin acids and their derivatives, rosin spirit and rosin oils, and run gums. All five leaves carried 0% on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure and no registration.

Hydrocarbon resins are heading 3911 (see our hydrocarbon resins guide), and natural gums and oleoresins are heading 1301 (see our natural gums and resins guide); confirm the commodity code.

Chemical rules

Rosin and its derivatives are substances under UK REACH, so importers of one tonne or more a year need a registration position, and the safety data sheet and label follow the retained CLP Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008. Check whether the supplier's safety data sheet classifies the product as a skin sensitiser, because that decides the label and any warning to downstream users.

Rosin as a sensitiser at work

Rosin, also called colophony, is a known cause of contact dermatitis and occupational asthma. The HSE publishes guidance, INDG249, on controlling the health risks from rosin (colophony)-based solder flux fume under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002, including local exhaust ventilation. UK flux, adhesive and ink makers will therefore ask for the classification on the safety data sheet before they approve a new rosin source.

Specifying rosin

Specify gum, wood or tall oil rosin, the colour grade (such as X, WW or WG), softening point (ring and ball), acid value, saponification value, unsaponifiable matter, turpentine and ash, for ester gums the polyol and acid value, and packing in steel drums or bags.

Worked duty example

Take a hypothetical order of 20 tonnes of WW grade gum rosin in drums, entered under 3806 10 00 10: £24,000 free on board plus £1,800 of freight and insurance gives a customs value of £25,800. Gum rosin carry no duty, so import VAT of 20% on £25,800, £5,160, is the only tax. A VAT-registered importer normally reclaims it, so the border adds no lasting cost. Step by step: UK import duty and VAT.

Inspection checklist

Analysis: check colour, softening point and acid value on the certificate, and verify a sample in an independent laboratory.

Appearance: check lumps for clarity, dirt and crystallisation.

Packing: check drum or bag integrity, weights and lot marking.

What goes wrong

Rosin orders fail on grade and crystallisation. Colour is darker than the grade ordered, softening point is low, rosin crystallises and clouds in storage, and tall oil or blended rosin is shipped as gum rosin.

Test samples before shipping. See our quality inspection guide.

Cambridge China Bridge sources gum rosin and ester gums for UK adhesive, ink, paper and flux makers, checking the processor first. See factory verification.