Sourcing Isophorone from China

Isophorone duty: 4%

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 20 October 2026, heading 2914 covers ketones and quinones and their specified derivatives. Isophorone falls within the residual line for cyclic ketones without other oxygen function, 2914 29 00 90. The table shows buying applications sharing this code, rather than separate tariff classifications.

The supplied tariff record gives 4% duty for Chinese-origin goods and records no anti-dumping or countervailing duty. The suspension on this line covers specified substances, not isophorone. It also attaches an export waste control. For material supplied as waste from China, confirm the applicable requirements with your customs broker; waste shipment controls apply only where the material is waste.

Confirm the identity, composition and commodity code before ordering. A formulated solvent blend needs a separate classification assessment. See the wider ketone solvent guide for related products.

Specify isophorone identity and batch quality

Specify isophorone as the substance being purchased, not isophorone diisocyanate or a solvent blend. Agree assay, isomer profile, water, colour, acidity and residue limits with the factory, together with test methods. State whether virgin or recovered material is acceptable, and approve a sample in your actual coating, ink or synthesis process.

Before supply in Great Britain, confirm chemical classification responsibilities with HSE. Importers must ensure correct labelling and packaging under the GB chemical classification rules. Establish your UK REACH registration position before committing to imports. Ask for a product-specific safety data sheet and a batch certificate of analysis; a generic solvent document does not establish the quality of your order.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 20 tonnes of isophorone in drums under 2914 29 00 90, invoiced at £18,000 free on board, with £3,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £21,500. Duty at 4% is £860. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £22,360, so it is £4,472. Import taxes total £5,332; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £860 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Identity: match the purchase specification, batch certificate and container labels to isophorone; check that no substitution or undeclared blending has occurred.

Batch quality: compare assay, isomer profile, water, colour and residue results with the agreed limits; arrange independent testing of the arrival sample.

Packaging: check drum condition, closures, seals and leakage, and reconcile delivered quantities with the packing list.

Traceability: match drum batch references to analysis certificates and retained samples; review chemical classification, labels and packaging before supply.

What goes wrong

An order described only as industrial-grade isophorone leaves room for disputes over water, colour, impurities and recovered material. A passing assay alone may not establish suitability for your formulation. Agree the full acceptance specification and compare the production batch with the approved sample.

Treat leaks, inconsistent batch references and missing analysis results as reasons to hold the affected stock for investigation. Do not claim the residual line's suspension merely because the supplier calls the product a specialty ketone.

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.