Sourcing primary-form nitrile rubber from China

Duty on nitrile rubber latex and dry rubber

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 5 November 2026, nitrile rubber latex under 4002 51 00 00 and other nitrile rubber under 4002 59 00 00 carried 0% duty for goods from China. Neither line lists anti-dumping or countervailing duty or a suspension. Heading 4002 covers synthetic rubber in primary forms or in plates, sheets or strip; this guide focuses on primary forms.

Both lines attach import and export waste controls. Waste shipment controls apply only where the material is waste. For a shipment from China to England subject to notification controls, the exporter starts the consent process in the country of dispatch. Obtain your broker's confirmation of the applicable waste procedure before shipping any scrap or off-specification material.

The table separates physical forms sharing the same dry-rubber code. Rubber already compounded with fillers or curatives falls under heading 4005. Confirm the commodity code using the composition and technical data sheet. See the synthetic rubber guide for the wider heading.

Specify the nitrile grade and processing behaviour

Specify acrylonitrile content, Mooney viscosity, volatile matter, ash and the antioxidant system, including whether it is non-staining. Identify the manufacturer's grade and agree whether the supply is bales, crumb, powder or latex. For latex, agree total solids, acidity and particle size, together with storage instructions and packing.

Ask your compounder to approve a sample in the intended recipe and compare cure behaviour with the material currently used. Agree batch acceptance criteria and request a certificate of analysis linked to each production lot.

Confirm with HSE whether a UK REACH polymer registration exemption applies and whether any monomers or additives need registration, taking account of upstream coverage. Check the composition and your supply-chain coverage rather than assuming that an exemption covers every ingredient.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 20 tonnes of nitrile rubber in bales under 4002 59 00 00, invoiced at £40,000 free on board, with £2,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £42,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £42,000, so it is £8,400. 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: match the manufacturer's grade, batch labels and certificate of analysis to the approved purchase specification.

Dry rubber: compare Mooney viscosity, acrylonitrile content, volatile matter and ash with the agreed limits; inspect for contamination and bales sticking together.

Latex: check total solids, acidity and signs of coagulation; inspect containers for leakage and match storage history to the supplier's instructions.

Processing: compare cure curves and trial-compound properties with the approved sample. Record results against the batch before releasing it to production.

What goes wrong

A similar grade name can hide different acrylonitrile content or viscosity. A batch that looks acceptable can behave differently during mixing, extrusion or curing. Staining antioxidants can discolour pale compounds, while poorly stored latex can coagulate.

Approve the actual grade in your own recipe, retain reference samples and agree storage and packing before dispatch. Keep suspect batches separate until the discrepancy is resolved. Use the inspection guide to define the checks before ordering.

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.