Sourcing n-Pentane from China

n-Pentane duty and classification

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, n-pentane falls within the saturated acyclic hydrocarbons line of heading 2901, code 2901 10 00 00. Duty for goods from China is 0%. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing measure and no suspension for this line.

The tariff attaches an export control for waste. Ask your customs broker to confirm its relevance to the consignment; distinguish unused n-pentane from spent solvent offered for recovery. If a waste shipment is subject to notification controls, the competent authorities of destination, dispatch and transit must consent before shipment.

Only the saturated line is relevant to this n-pentane guide. Confirm the commodity code using the composition and certificate of analysis. For related products within the wider heading, see isopentane blowing agent.

Specify n-pentane content and impurities

Name n-pentane explicitly in the purchase specification. Agree its content, permitted isopentane and other hydrocarbon impurities, water, sulphur, benzene, non-volatile residue and distillation range. State the intended solvent or foam-processing use, test methods and acceptance criteria. Require a certificate of analysis tied to the supplied batch, rather than a generic product sheet.

For Great Britain, confirm with HSE which UK REACH registration requirements apply to your annual imports and whether coverage through an only representative is available. Confirm the arrangement before ordering. Everyone in the supply chain is responsible for correct labelling and packaging before sale. Hazardous chemicals supplied for workplace use require a safety data sheet.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 18 tonnes of drum-packed n-pentane, illustrative only under 2901 10 00 00, invoiced at £21,000 free on board, with £3,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £24,200. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £24,200, so it is £4,840. With no duty, the only import tax is the VAT, which a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Identity: compare the batch certificate with independent gas chromatography results for n-pentane content and the agreed impurity profile.

Condition: check water, appearance and evaporation residue against the specification. Arrange sampling through personnel equipped to handle flammable solvents.

Packaging: inspect seals, closures, damage and leakage before acceptance. Match batch identification and declared quantity to the delivery records.

Documents: match the English safety data sheet, labels and dangerous goods declaration to the actual product. Ask the relevant transport authority or your customs broker to confirm whether transport number 1265 applies to the supplied pentanes and which packaging approvals and labels are needed.

What goes wrong

A pentane blend can be supplied against an order for n-pentane, while a certificate stating only total pentanes hides the composition difference. Water or residue from previous cargo can also defeat the agreed specification. Test the actual delivery batch and compare its impurity profile with the approved sample.

A clean laboratory sample does not establish the condition of every drum. Check packing and documents before loading, retain batch records and investigate damaged or leaking containers before use. Agree the sampling and acceptance procedure through a quality inspection plan.

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.