Sourcing n-butanol from China

n-Butanol duty and tariff scope

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 5 November 2026, n-butanol under 2905 13 00 00 carries 4% duty for goods from China. The record shows no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. Heading 2905 covers acyclic alcohols and their specified derivatives; this guide covers only n-butanol. Other alcohols are covered in our wider heading guide.

The tariff record attaches an export control for waste. In England, waste shipment controls apply only where the material is waste. If buying recovered or spent solvent, establish its waste status before shipment and ask your customs broker to confirm the applicable control for the China-to-UK route.

There is a single n-butanol line in the supplied record, so different commercial grades are not separate tariff rows here. Give your broker the composition, grade and intended use to confirm the commodity code, particularly where the offer describes a solvent blend.

Specify n-butanol identity and water content

Name n-butanol explicitly on the enquiry, purchase order and batch certificate. Specify assay, water content, acidity, colour and non-volatile residue, with agreed test methods and acceptance limits. State whether virgin or recovered material is acceptable. Ask for a retained batch sample and test the material in your intended formulation before accepting a bulk lot.

For imports into Great Britain, UK REACH registration responsibilities generally arise at one tonne or more of the substance annually. Check whether your own registration or the manufacturer's appointed representative covers the supply. Before placing the chemical on the Great Britain market, the importer must ensure correct classification, labelling and packaging. Hazardous chemicals supplied for workplace use require a safety data sheet.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 20 tonnes of n-butanol in drums under 2905 13 00 00, invoiced at £21,000 free on board, with £3,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £24,500. Duty at 4% is £980. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £25,480, so it is £5,096. Import taxes total £6,076; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £980 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Identity: match the product name and batch identifiers across the order, analysis certificate, safety data sheet and drum labels.

Analysis: compare batch assay, water, acidity, colour and residue results with the agreed specification; arrange independent testing where the results need confirmation.

Packaging: check drum material against the agreed packing specification, closures, seals, leaks, corrosion and signs of repacking.

Arrival: reconcile delivered quantity and batch records, photograph damage and hold suspect material apart pending investigation.

What goes wrong

An offer saying only “butanol” leaves the identity unclear. An undated generic analysis sheet does not establish the delivered batch's quality. Water, residue or unwanted solvent impurities can make material unsuitable for the buyer's formulation even when the headline assay looks acceptable.

Avoid releasing stock on appearance alone. Compare the delivered batch with the approved sample and agreed test results. Resolve missing safety information, uncertain registration coverage or inconsistent labels before supplying the material in Great Britain.

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.