Sourcing limonene from China

Limonene duty and classification

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 2902 covers cyclic hydrocarbons. For isolated limonene, the candidate line is 2902 19 00 00, covering other cyclanes, cyclenes and cycloterpenes. Its duty on goods from China is 0%, with no recorded anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. The limonene variants shown share this candidate line; they are purchasing descriptions rather than separate tariff subdivisions.

The supplied tariff record attaches an export control for waste to this line. Environment Agency guidance for England says waste shipment controls apply only when the material is waste. For reclaimed or spent material from China, ask your customs broker to confirm waste status and the applicable requirements before shipment.

Confirm the commodity code using the composition and batch analysis rather than the supplier's product name. Solvent blends and thinners are classified elsewhere. For the wider heading, see toluene, xylene and styrene.

Specify the limonene isomer and condition

State whether you need right-handed, left-handed or racemic limonene, and whether citrus-derived or synthetic material is acceptable. Agree purity, other terpene content, water, colour, odour and peroxide value with the intended user. Request the test methods, a batch certificate of analysis and an approved sample. A citrus origin claim does not establish chemical purity.

Chemicals placed on the Great Britain market must be classified and labelled under GB CLP. A safety data sheet is required when a hazardous chemical is supplied for workplace use. Confirm with HSE whether your planned annual imports require UK REACH registration and whether only-representative arrangements cover them. Registration is per substance and importing legal entity. Agree sealed packaging and storage conditions with the supplier.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: a pallet of sealed drums of distilled right-handed limonene under 2902 19 00 00, invoiced at £4,200 free on board, with £980 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £5,180. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £5,180, so it is £1,036. 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: match the isomer description, batch number and certificate to the order; use optical rotation or an appropriate laboratory method where isomer identity matters.

Composition: compare gas chromatography results for limonene and other terpenes with the agreed specification, using samples taken from the delivered batch.

Condition: check water, colour and peroxide value against the contract; investigate darkening or an unexpected odour through controlled laboratory assessment.

Packing and documents: inspect seals, closures and leakage; match drum labels and the safety data sheet to the material. Arrange sampling through the quality inspection guide.

What goes wrong

Buying against the word 'limonene' alone leaves room for the wrong isomer, excessive other terpenes or material that differs from the approved sample. Citrus oil offered as isolated limonene, contamination from reused drums and deterioration during storage are problems to investigate when appearance or laboratory results change.

Make acceptance depend on the delivered batch, with agreed tests and retained samples. Keep a suspect batch separate while investigating. Check chemical supply documents before loading, and assess any proposed food or cosmetic use separately rather than relying on a supplier's grade name.

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.