Sourcing liquefied ethane from China

Duty on liquefied ethane

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 2711 covers petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons. Liquefied ethane falls within the supplied liquefied other category, 2711 19 00 00. The table repeats this code for different purchasing applications; these are not separate tariff subdivisions.

The supplied facts show 0% duty for goods from China under this code, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, no suspension and no attached import controls. These tariff findings do not replace chemical supply and transport checks.

Confirm the commodity code using the composition and physical state at import. Keep ethane distinct from ethylene and from mixed natural gas. See the high-purity methane guide for the wider heading and the import duty and VAT guide for the calculation method.

Specify ethane purity and the delivery vessel

State whether the ethane is for chemical processing, laboratory work or process trials. Agree the ethane content and individual limits for methane, ethylene, heavier hydrocarbons, moisture, oxygen and sulphur compounds. Specify the analytical method and reporting basis, and request a certificate of analysis tied to the shipment batch.

Agree whether delivery is refrigerated or pressure-liquefied, the receiving equipment, valve connections, vessel ownership and return arrangements. Ask the producer to document vessel cleanliness and previous contents. Have the receiving operator review the transfer arrangements before dispatch.

Before supply in Great Britain, substances must be labelled and packaged correctly. Hazardous chemicals supplied for workplace use require a safety data sheet. Check whether UK REACH registration is required before a first import. Employers must assess workplace risks from dangerous substances before work starts. Dangerous goods must also be packaged and labelled appropriately for transport.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 4 tonnes of liquefied ethane for a process trial in suitable transport vessels under 2711 19 00 00, invoiced at £4,000 free on board, with £1,800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £5,800. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £5,800, so it is £1,160. 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 vessel markings, batch references and the certificate of analysis to the ordered ethane.

Composition: check ethane content and each agreed impurity limit; arrange representative sampling through a specialist gas laboratory.

Vessel: review cleanliness records, valve compatibility, seals and visible damage; ask the receiving operator to check pressure and temperature against the agreed delivery conditions.

Documents: match the safety data sheet and labels to the delivered product, and reconcile net contents with shipment records. See quality inspection.

What goes wrong

An overall purity claim can conceal an impurity that matters to the process. Moisture, oxygen or residues from previous vessel contents can make a batch unsuitable even when the headline ethane content is acceptable. Specify individual acceptance limits and agree how disputed analytical results will be checked.

Delivery can fail when the vessel connection or delivery conditions do not match the receiving installation. Generic analysis certificates and safety data sheets can also describe a different grade. Resolve these discrepancies before shipment and confirm who handles unloading and vessel return.

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.