Sourcing industrial caprylic acid from China

Duty on industrial caprylic acid

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, heading 3823 covers industrial monocarboxylic fatty acids, acid oils from refining and industrial fatty alcohols. This guide concerns industrial caprylic-rich fatty-acid grades. The table shows alternative non-feed classification lines, rather than interchangeable codes. See the wider fatty acids and alcohols guide.

The selected lines carry 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspensions or attached import controls for them. Chemical supply obligations still apply: Great Britain importers must address classification, labelling and packaging, and establish their UK REACH registration position.

Confirm the commodity code using the manufacturing process, full fatty-acid profile and intended use. Listed-composition lines specify carbon-chain coverage and an iodine value below 105g/100g; 3823 19 90 95 also specifies a degree of split of at least 97%. Ask your broker to check whether heading 3823 fits the actual grade, particularly when the supplier describes a separately defined chemical.

Specify the caprylic acid profile

Specify caprylic acid content and the permitted amounts of other fatty acids, rather than accepting an industrial-grade description alone. Agree test methods and acceptance limits for the fatty-acid profile, acid value, iodine value, moisture, colour and non-volatile residue. Record feedstock origin, distillation process, batch identification, packaging material and closure type.

Before shipment, establish the UK REACH registration route. Where a new registration is required and downstream user import notification provisions do not apply, HSE requires registration before manufacture or imports reach 1 tonne per year. Classification and labelling must be handled by someone with scientific competence. A safety data sheet is required when a hazardous chemical is supplied for workplace use.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 5 tonnes of distilled industrial caprylic-rich fatty acids meeting this line under 3823 19 10 70, invoiced at £24,000 free on board, with £2,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £26,200. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £26,200, so it is £5,240. With no duty, the only import tax is the VAT, which a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Identity: compare the batch certificate and an independent fatty-acid profile with the agreed caprylic content and limits for neighbouring fatty acids.

Condition: check moisture, colour, acid value and residue against the purchase specification; compare a retained sample with the approved sample.

Packaging: check drum compatibility, seals, closures, leakage and batch markings; reconcile received net weight with the packing list.

Documents: check that the safety data sheet, classification and labels describe the supplied grade, and that the UK REACH position covers the planned import.

What goes wrong

A caprylic-rich blend can be supplied against a specification intended for a narrower fatty-acid cut. The acid value alone does not demonstrate the agreed fatty-acid profile. Other failures include moisture contamination, excessive colour or residue, leaking closures and certificates that describe a different batch.

Approve a representative sample, agree an independent batch test and retain samples from shipment and receipt. Trial the material in your own process before accepting a changed feedstock or composition. Use the quality inspection guide to define the checks and acceptance decision.

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.