Sourcing Mandelic Acid from China
The supplied tariff line for specified S-mandelic acid at 99% purity or more carries 6% UK duty from China, with no listed trade remedy or suspension. Chemical labelling and packaging duties apply before placing it on the Great Britain market. Other forms need separate code checks. Cambridge China Bridge sources mandelic acid.
Mandelic acid duty and classification
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 2918 covers carboxylic acids with additional oxygen function and their derivatives. The supplied mandelic-acid line is 2918 19 98 25: specified S-mandelic acid, chemical identity 17199-29-0, with purity by weight of 99% or more. This guide's table contains only that relevant supplied line.
That line carries 6% duty for goods from China. The supplied record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. It attaches an export control for waste. Waste shipment controls apply only where the material is waste; ask your customs broker to confirm the attached control's relevance to your consignment, particularly for recovered or discarded material.
Confirm the commodity code using chemical identity, stereochemical form, purity and composition. Do not assume this specified line covers racemic mandelic acid, another stereochemical form or a formulated skincare product. The supplied facts do not establish their rates. See the lactic acid guide for wider heading context.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Specified S-mandelic acid, purity by weight of 99% or more | 2918 19 98 25 | 6% | None |
Specify mandelic acid identity and grade
Write the chemical identity and stereochemical form into the purchase specification. State whether you need racemic material or a particular enantiomer. Agree assay method, water content, related impurities, residual solvents, appearance and particle size. For an enantiomer-specific order, request a chiral purity result rather than relying on total assay alone.
Describe the intended use, such as formulation trials or chemical synthesis. Request a batch-specific certificate of analysis, safety data sheet and retained sample. Agree sealed inner packaging and storage instructions. Treat the supplier's grade description as a starting point for your specification.
Before importing a substance into Great Britain, ask HSE to confirm whether UK REACH registration is required for your annual volume and intended use, and whether any exemption applies. Registration is per substance, per legal entity. Chemicals must be labelled and packaged correctly before being placed on the market. If mandelic acid is used in a finished cosmetic, a qualified safety assessor must check that cosmetic's safety before it becomes available to consumers.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 25 kg of the specified S-mandelic acid; illustrative FOB and freight values under 2918 19 98 25, invoiced at £2,500 free on board, with £500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £3,000. Duty at 6% is £180. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £3,180, so it is £636. Import taxes total £816; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £180 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Identity: match the order, container labels and analysis certificate to the chemical identity and requested stereochemical form.
Analysis: compare batch assay, water, related impurities and residual solvents with the agreed specification. Check chiral results where an enantiomer was ordered.
Packing: check seals, inner liners, dampness, caking and foreign particles. Record damaged containers before opening or accepting them.
Traceability: match each container's batch reference to its certificate and retain a representative sample. Include these checks in your inspection brief.
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What goes wrong
A total-purity certificate can leave the stereochemical composition unanswered. Racemic material supplied against an enantiomer-specific order may therefore appear acceptable on assay alone. A generic certificate also leaves you unable to connect the reported results to the delivered batch. Set acceptance criteria before ordering and investigate mismatches before using the material.
Other failure points are moisture, damaged inner packaging and impurities omitted from the agreed test panel. Request results for the delivered batch and assess it in your actual process. A supplier's cosmetic-grade description does not replace the safety assessment required for a finished cosmetic.
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 mandelic acid from China?
The supplied line 2918 19 98 25, for specified S-mandelic acid at 99% purity or more, carries 6%. No trade remedy or suspension is listed. Other forms need separate classification.
Does this code cover racemic mandelic acid?
Do not assume so. The supplied line specifies a particular stereochemical form and purity. Ask your customs broker to classify racemic material using its identity and composition.
What should a mandelic acid analysis certificate show?
Request batch identity, assay, water, related impurities and residual solvents against your specification. For an enantiomer-specific order, include chiral purity and the test method.
Can cosmetic-grade mandelic acid be used in a skincare product?
Supplier grade alone does not establish the finished product's safety. Before a cosmetic becomes available to consumers in Great Britain, its safety must be checked by a qualified safety assessor.