Sourcing Hexylene Glycol from China

Hexylene glycol duty and classification

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 2905 covers acyclic alcohols and their specified derivatives. For hexylene glycol, the residual diols line 2905 39 95 90 is the candidate code to confirm. Its Chinese-origin duty is 4%, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty shown. The table describes purchasing specifications within this same tariff line.

The suspension attached to this line names other diols, not hexylene glycol, so do not assume the suspension applies. The supplied facts also attach an export waste control. Waste shipment controls apply only when the material is waste. If buying recovered or discarded material from China, confirm its status and the applicable requirements with your customs broker before shipment.

Confirm the commodity code using the substance identity, composition and intended supply form. For other products within this heading, see glycols, sorbitol, erythritol and glycerol.

Specify hexylene glycol for your formulation

State the intended use and agree assay, water content, colour, acidity and impurity limits with the factory. Specify whether you require virgin material and whether any additives are permitted. Ask for a batch certificate of analysis showing the test methods, rather than accepting a generic product specification.

Trial the sample in your actual formulation, checking clarity, odour, viscosity and stability against your approved reference. Agree drum material, closure type and traceability before production. Review UK REACH registration responsibilities for the import arrangement. Classification and labelling must be carried out by someone with scientific competence.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative trial consignment of hexylene glycol in sealed drums under 2905 39 95 90, invoiced at £3,500 free on board, with £2,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £6,000. Duty at 4% is £240. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £6,240, so it is £1,248. Import taxes total £1,488; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £240 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Identity: match the chemical identity on the order, analysis certificate, safety data sheet and drum labels.

Batch quality: test assay and water content against the agreed specification; compare colour and acidity with the approved sample.

Packaging: check closures, seals, leakage, drum condition and batch markings before accepting delivery.

Supply documents: review classification, labels and packaging before placing the chemical on the Great Britain market; keep the batch analysis linked to the delivered drums.

What goes wrong

A sample can perform well while the delivered batch has different water content, impurities or odour. A certificate showing only a headline purity result can conceal a mismatch with your formulation. Agree the complete acceptance specification and retain a reference sample from the supplied batch.

Another error is claiming the suspension because it appears beside the residual diols code. Its substance-specific wording does not cover hexylene glycol. Resolve classification and suspension eligibility before costing the order, and investigate leaking or untraceable drums before releasing them into production.

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.