Sourcing hydrocarbon resins from China

0% duty

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 26 September 2026, petroleum resins, coumarone, indene or coumarone-indene resins and polyterpenes, and the other polymers of heading 3911, carried 0% duty on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure; several named resins on these lines also have their own suspensions. Rosin and rosin esters are in heading 3806 and epoxy resins in 3907, so the chemistry decides the commodity code.

Specification, REACH and CLP

Hydrocarbon resins are bought on softening point by the ring and ball method, colour on the Gardner scale, acid value, molecular weight distribution and odour, and on compatibility with the polymer they go into, such as EVA or SIS in hot-melt adhesives. Hydrogenated resins are lighter and more stable, and cost more, so the grade has to be named in the specification.

Polymers themselves are exempt from UK REACH registration, but the monomers and reactants in them can need registration by the importer when they make up 2% or more of the polymer and reach one tonne a year, so ask the supplier which monomers are used. Dust and residual solvents can bring CLP classification and a safety data sheet. See the glues and adhesives guide, the PET, epoxy and polyester resins guide and UK REACH for importers.

Worked duty example

An invented example rather than a quote: 40 tonnes of C5 hydrocarbon resin, commodity code 3911 10 00 90, bought for £52,000 free on board, with £3,000 of freight and insurance, so £55,000 is the value customs works from. No duty is due on hydrocarbon resins; import VAT at 20% of £55,000 is £11,000. If you are VAT-registered, that VAT is normally reclaimable. A few named resins on these lines have their own suspensions, but the general rate is already 0%. See calculating UK import duty and VAT for the method.

What goes wrong

Resins fail on softening point, colour and consistency. Lots drift a few degrees in softening point so adhesives set too fast or stay tacky, colour darkens in storage or on heating, and odour from residual monomer or solvent makes the resin unusable for hygiene or packaging adhesives. Pastilles or flakes cake in warm containers, compatibility changes between lots, and the monomer information needed for REACH is not available.

Test softening point, Gardner colour, acid value and molecular weight on each lot against the specification, run a heat stability and colour test, check odour and volatile content, trial each new lot in your own formulation, ask for packing that resists caking and ship in cooler months where possible, and get monomer details and the safety data sheet before the first order.

Cambridge China Bridge sources C5, C9, DCPD and hydrogenated hydrocarbon resins for adhesive, road marking and ink makers, with lot testing and REACH information agreed before shipment. See our resin sourcing service.