Sourcing methylamine solutions from China

Methylamine solutions: 6% duty

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 5 November 2026, heading 2921 covers amine-function compounds. Its methylamine, dimethylamine, trimethylamine and salts line, 2921 11 00 00, carries 6% duty for goods from China. No anti-dumping or countervailing measure or tariff suspension is recorded for this line. The table shows purchasing variants sharing this commodity line.

The UK Trade Tariff attaches an export waste control to this line. Environment Agency guidance says waste shipment controls apply only where the material is waste. If an offer involves discarded or spent solution, ask your customs broker to confirm the applicable requirements for the shipment from China before ordering.

Confirm the commodity code using the chemical identity, solvent and full composition. Do not assume every formulated product containing methylamine belongs here. See the dimethylamine guide for related methylamines within the wider heading.

Specify the solution, not just methylamine

Write aqueous methylamine explicitly if water is the required solvent. Agree concentration by mass, assay method, acceptable impurities, colour and the intended process. Ask for a batch certificate of analysis and a sample assessed against your own acceptance criteria. A purity statement for the methylamine component does not describe the concentration of the delivered solution.

For Great Britain, agree chemical classification, compliant labelling and packaging, and an English safety data sheet before shipment. Classification and labelling must be carried out by someone with scientific competence. Check UK REACH registration coverage where annual substance imports reach one tonne or more, and complete the workplace hazardous-substance assessment before delivery.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: An illustrative trial consignment of technical-grade aqueous methylamine in drums under 2921 11 00 00, invoiced at £4,000 free on board, with £2,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £6,500. Duty at 6% is £390. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £6,890, so it is £1,378. Import taxes total £1,768; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £390 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Identity: match the order, batch certificate, container labels and safety data sheet to methylamine in the agreed solvent.

Concentration: verify the batch assay against the agreed concentration and test method; check the impurity and colour results.

Packaging: inspect seals, closures and container condition without opening the shipment outside the agreed handling procedure; record leaks or damage.

Documents: check English safety information, chemical labels and dangerous goods paperwork against the actual solution and packaging.

What goes wrong

An offer can describe methylamine purity while leaving solution strength unclear. Different concentration, an undeclared solvent or excessive impurities can make a batch unsuitable for the buyer's process. Compare the full specification and batch results before approving dispatch.

Labels and safety data sheets may describe a different concentration from the delivered batch, while damaged closures create a handling problem on arrival. Hold affected containers from use, follow the agreed safety procedure and obtain supplier clarification. Use factory verification to check who makes and packs the solution.

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.