Sourcing Isobutyraldehyde from China
Isobutyraldehyde from China carries 4% UK duty, with no suspension or trade remedy recorded for the relevant line. Ask HSE to confirm UK REACH registration requirements for your annual imports of the substance. Agree purity, impurities and batch testing before shipment. Cambridge China Bridge sources isobutyraldehyde.
Isobutyraldehyde duty and classification
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 2912 covers aldehydes, cyclic polymers of aldehydes and paraformaldehyde. Isobutyraldehyde falls within the residual line for acyclic aldehydes without other oxygen function, 2912 19 00 90. The purchasing descriptions in the table share this line; they are not separate tariff subdivisions.
The recorded duty for goods from China is 4%, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension on this line. The tariff also attaches an export control for waste. Confirm its relevance with your customs broker, particularly for rejected material proposed for return to China. Waste shipment rules apply separately if the material is waste.
Confirm the commodity code using the substance identity, composition and specification, especially if the supplier offers a blend rather than the named substance. See the wider butyraldehyde guide for related purchasing context.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Isobutyraldehyde, technical grade | 2912 19 00 90 | 4% | None |
Specify isobutyraldehyde identity and impurities
Write isobutyraldehyde explicitly in the purchase specification and distinguish it from normal butyraldehyde. Agree assay, water, acidity, colour and relevant organic impurities, with test methods and acceptance criteria. Ask the factory to identify any additives and provide a batch-specific certificate of analysis with the chromatogram supporting the assay.
For Great Britain, ask HSE to confirm UK REACH registration requirements against your annual imports of the substance. Classification and labelling must be carried out by someone with scientific competence. Obtain the safety data sheet before approving packaging, handling and storage arrangements; chemical suppliers must provide it with the first consignment.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 2 tonnes of isobutyraldehyde for synthesis, illustrative only under 2912 19 00 90, invoiced at £2,500 free on board, with £1,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £3,700. Duty at 4% is £148. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £3,848, so it is £769.60. Import taxes total £917.60; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £148 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Identity: match the purchase specification, drum labels, safety data sheet and batch certificate; resolve any reference to normal butyraldehyde.
Analysis: compare assay, water, acidity and impurity results with the agreed methods and acceptance criteria; check that the certificate covers the delivered batch.
Packaging: examine closures, seals, leaks, corrosion and external damage; confirm that the container material and storage instructions match the agreed supply.
Traceability: reconcile drum batch marks and net contents with the packing list, and arrange controlled sampling for arrival testing.
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What goes wrong
A quotation saying only butyraldehyde leaves the intended substance unclear. A headline purity result can also hide an unsuitable impurity profile. Treat a generic certificate, missing chromatogram or unexplained difference between the sample and production batch as a reason to investigate before accepting the lot.
Damaged closures, inconsistent batch marks and unexplained changes in colour or acidity deserve investigation. Hold affected containers apart from released stock and compare arrival results with the pre-shipment sample. Agree the sampling method, acceptance criteria and handling of rejected material before dispatch.
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 isobutyraldehyde from China?
The recorded duty is 4% under 2912 19 00 90, with no suspension, anti-dumping duty or countervailing duty recorded for that line.
Do I need UK REACH registration for isobutyraldehyde?
Ask HSE to confirm whether UK REACH registration applies to your annual imports of the substance. Check your registration position before committing to the order.
What should an isobutyraldehyde batch certificate show?
Ask for batch identity, assay, water, acidity and agreed impurities, together with test methods. Request the supporting chromatogram rather than relying only on a headline purity result.
Can I rely on the Chinese supplier's chemical labels?
Have classification and labelling checked by someone with scientific competence. Compare the labels with the supplied substance and safety data sheet before approving the shipment.