Sourcing oil antifoam packages from China
Lubricant antifoam additive packages from China normally carry 4% UK duty; the listed acrylic concentrate can qualify for 0% under authorised use. Check composition, constituent UK REACH obligations and hazard classification before supply in Great Britain. Cambridge China Bridge sources lubricant antifoam additive packages.
Antifoam duty and conditional suspension
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, heading 3811 covers prepared additives for mineral oils and other liquids used for the same purposes. This guide concerns lubricant antifoam concentrates and packages. The relevant lubricant-additive lines carry 4% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measures and no attached import controls recorded in the supplied tariff extract.
The listed acrylic antifoam under 3811 21 00 77 has a 0% suspension under authorised use. Its description specifies a copolymer of ethylhexyl acrylate and ethyl acrylate with more than 50% but not more than 80% mineral oils, for manufacturing lubricant-additive blends. The footnote excludes further mixtures containing the listed product. You must be authorised to claim authorised-use relief. Suspensions within the residual lines are composition-specific, so budget 4% for other antifoam packages unless eligibility is confirmed.
The table shows candidate classifications, with different oil-containing formulations sharing a residual code. Send the complete composition, carrier-oil identity and intended use to your broker to confirm the commodity code. For the wider heading, see fuel and oil additives.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listed acrylic antifoam concentrate in mineral oil | 3811 21 00 77 | 4% | None |
| Other oil-containing acrylic antifoam packages, subject to composition | 3811 21 00 90 | 4% | None |
| Other lubricant antifoam packages without petroleum oils, subject to composition | 3811 29 00 90 | 4% | None |
Specify antifoam performance in your finished oil
Specify acrylic or silicone chemistry, active content, carrier oil, viscosity, density and appearance. Name the base oil and other additives used in your blend. Agree the addition method, mixing conditions, storage conditions and acceptance criteria for foam formation, foam collapse and air release. Approve a sample tested in your finished oil, rather than accepting results from an unspecified test fluid.
Check UK REACH registration obligations for the constituent substances. Registration is per substance and legal entity, and HSE identifies an annual threshold of 1 tonne for substances imported within mixtures. Hazard classification and labelling must be undertaken by someone with scientific competence. Confirm the applicable hazard-label and packaging requirements for hazardous formulations with HSE; a safety data sheet is required when hazardous chemicals are supplied for use at work.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 5 tonnes of oil-containing lubricant antifoam additive package under 3811 21 00 90, invoiced at £24,000 free on board, with £2,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £26,500. Duty at 4% is £1,060. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £27,560, so it is £5,512. Import taxes total £6,572; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,060 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Identity: compare the batch certificate, active content, carrier identity, viscosity and appearance with the approved specification. Keep a labelled retained sample.
Performance: blend the arrival sample into your actual oil at the agreed dosage. Check foam formation, collapse and air release using the agreed method and conditions.
Stability: check for settling, separation or contamination. Follow the agreed sampling and mixing instructions so the sample represents the delivered batch.
Packaging and documents: check seals, leaks, batch identification, fill quantity, safety data sheet and applicable hazard labels. Compare the delivered formulation with the composition used for the customs declaration.
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What goes wrong
A concentrate can suppress visible foam in a supplier's test oil yet fail in your finished blend. Different carrier oils, active contents or mixing conditions can change dispersion. Separation can also make a sample unrepresentative. Treat foam control and air release as separate acceptance checks, and investigate changes before adjusting the dosage.
A supplier may quote the suspended acrylic line for a package containing additional ingredients. The listed-product suspension excludes further mixtures containing that product. Confirm eligibility before using a suspended rate, and agree batch testing through the quality inspection guide.
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 lubricant antifoam packages from China?
The relevant lubricant-additive lines carry 4%. The listed acrylic antifoam under 3811 21 00 77 can qualify for 0% under authorised use. The supplied extract records no anti-dumping or countervailing duty.
Does adding a listed antifoam make my package duty-free?
No automatic entitlement follows. The listed acrylic suspension excludes further mixtures containing that product. Ask your broker to check the complete formulation and authorised-use eligibility.
What should I test before accepting an antifoam batch?
Check identity, active content, viscosity and separation, then test foam formation, collapse and air release in your actual finished oil at the agreed dosage and mixing conditions.
Does UK REACH registration apply to the whole additive package?
Registration is assessed for constituent substances rather than the mixture itself. Check annual substance volumes and registration coverage before importing.