Sourcing N-butyl acrylate from China

N-butyl acrylate duty and classification

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 2916 covers unsaturated and cyclic monocarboxylic acids and their derivatives. N-butyl acrylate falls within the supplied line for other acrylic acid esters, 2916 12 00 90. The table repeats this line for different buying uses, rather than separate tariff classifications.

The supplied line carries 6% duty on goods from China and shows no anti-dumping or countervailing duty. Its listed suspensions apply to other named esters, not N-butyl acrylate. The older published guide mentions a separate butyl acrylate suspension, but that line is absent from the supplied snapshot. Confirm the current classification before ordering. The UK Trade Tariff attaches an export waste control; ask your customs broker to confirm its relevance to your shipment.

Provide the substance identity, composition and inhibitor details when confirming the commodity code. Do not select a code solely from the supplier's invoice description. See the ethyl acrylate guide for the wider acrylic ester context.

Specify purity, inhibitor and handling

Specify N-butyl acrylate by its full chemical identity. Agree acceptance criteria for purity, water, acidity, colour and inhibitor content, together with the test methods. Request a certificate of analysis for the actual production batch and agree packaging, storage conditions and transport temperature limits before dispatch.

For supply in Great Britain, the importer must ensure correct labelling and packaging before placing the chemical on the market. Confirm applicable classification requirements with HSE. Hazardous chemicals supplied for workplace use require a safety data sheet. Review your UK REACH registration responsibilities before committing to direct imports.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 15 tonnes of N-butyl acrylate under 2916 12 00 90, invoiced at £21,000 free on board, with £2,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £23,500. Duty at 6% is £1,410. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £24,910, so it is £4,982. Import taxes total £6,392; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,410 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Identity: match the purchase order, batch certificate, safety data sheet and container labels to N-butyl acrylate.

Analysis: compare batch purity, water, acidity, colour and inhibitor results with the agreed specification.

Packaging: check seals, closures, leaks, damage and readable batch identification on arrival.

Condition: review transport temperature records and arrange competent assessment of unexpected thickening or deposits before accepting the batch.

What goes wrong

Acrylates can polymerise if inhibitor content is inadequate or the shipment overheats. Agree how the supplier will maintain stability and provide batch evidence. A generic certificate or an earlier sample result does not establish that the delivered batch meets your specification.

A supplier may apply a suspension belonging to another acrylic ester or confuse N-butyl acrylate with butyl methacrylate. Match the chemical identity to the tariff description and resolve conflicting paperwork before shipment.

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.