Sourcing industrial degreasers from China
Industrial degreasers from China under the selected preparation lines carry 4% UK duty before any narrowly defined suspension. Detergents placed on the Great Britain market must meet detergent rules, and hazardous products need compliant labels and packaging. Cambridge China Bridge sources industrial degreasers.
Industrial degreaser duty and classification
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 17 October 2026, heading 3402 covers organic surface-active agents and surface-active, washing and cleaning preparations. This guide concerns industrial degreasers classified as preparations within that heading. Check the composition and presentation rather than relying on the supplier's description. See the wider heading guide.
The selected lines carry 4% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measure recorded. A conditional suspension at 0.00 % appears on 3402 90 10 90 for specified preparations; it is not a general exemption for degreasers. No suspension or import control is recorded on the other selected lines.
Some surfactant raw-material lines elsewhere in this heading carry waste import and export controls. Waste controls apply only to waste. For a China-to-England shipment under notification controls, the exporter applies to the dispatch authority and shipment awaits the relevant authorities' consent. Confirm any waste status and requirements with your customs broker. For finished degreasers, confirm the commodity code using the formulation, intended use and packaging.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surface-active preparations put up for retail sale | 3402 50 10 00 | 4% | None |
| Cleaning preparations put up for retail sale | 3402 50 90 00 | 4% | None |
| Other surface-active preparations, not put up for retail sale | 3402 90 10 90 | 4% | None |
| Cleaning preparations, not put up for retail sale | 3402 90 90 00 | 4% | None |
Specify the grease, substrate and cleaning process
Specify the contamination to remove, such as machining oil, heavy grease or baked-on deposits, and the surfaces to protect, including aluminium, steel, painted panels and rubber seals. Agree whether the product is water-based or solvent-based, concentrated or ready to use, and intended for wiping, spraying or a parts washer. Set dilution, operating temperature, contact time, foam behaviour, rinsing and residue expectations against an approved sample.
Detergent rules apply to cleaning mixtures for machinery and surfaces in Great Britain. Ask for surfactant biodegradability evidence and formulation information before approving the product. Hazardous detergents must meet chemical classification, labelling and packaging requirements. Confirm safety data sheet requirements for a hazardous mixture with HSE. Discuss the documentation with our testing and certification service.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 18 tonnes of industrial degreaser in drums under 3402 90 90 00, invoiced at £27,000 free on board, with £2,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £29,200. Duty at 4% is £1,168. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £30,368, so it is £6,073.60. Import taxes total £7,241.60; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,168 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Performance: test the delivered batch on the agreed grease and substrate at the specified dilution, temperature and contact time; compare cleaning and rinsing with the approved sample.
Compatibility: check aluminium discolouration, steel corrosion, paint softening and rubber swelling after the agreed exposure.
Consistency: compare appearance, density, acidity or alkalinity, dilution stability, foam and residue with the agreed specification.
Packaging and documents: check fill quantity, cap and drum seals, leakage, batch identification, and agreement between formulation, label and safety data sheet. Use the inspection guide to organise arrival checks.
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What goes wrong
A sample may remove oil quickly but the production batch leaves a film, foams excessively in a parts washer or separates after dilution. Strong alkaline blends can damage aluminium; solvent-rich blends can soften paint and seals. Test on the actual component and cleaning equipment before accepting a formulation.
A bulk drum does not by itself make a detergent an industrial product under detergent rules. HSE distinguishes specific products used by specialised personnel from domestic detergents sold in bulk. Avoid approving a label or documentation approach solely because the pack is large.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on industrial degreasers from China?
The selected preparation lines carry 4% duty. A narrowly defined suspension appears on 3402 90 10 90; check eligibility rather than assuming all industrial degreasers qualify.
Do industrial degreasers need a safety data sheet?
Confirm with HSE whether the hazardous mixture needs a safety data sheet. Check that any sheet supplied describes the supplied formulation and agrees with the hazard label.
How do I check whether a degreaser damages aluminium?
Test the agreed dilution and exposure on your actual aluminium component. Check discolouration, surface attack and residue alongside grease removal.
Does buying detergent in drums make it an industrial detergent?
No. HSE says a domestic detergent sold in bulk to an industrial concern is not an industrial or institutional detergent.