Sourcing oxalic acid from China

Oxalic acid duty and related oxalates

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, oxalic acid under 2917 11 00 91 carries 6% duty for goods from China. This line covers anhydrous acid, dihydrate and aqueous solution within heading 2917. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension for this line.

The related oxalates in the table are not interchangeable with oxalic acid. Cobalt oxalate and bis(p-methylbenzyl) oxalate have 6% base duty suspended to 0%; their suspension excludes mixtures, preparations and products containing different components. Other oxalic acid salts and esters carry 6%. These lines list no trade remedy. The attached waste measure is labelled as an export control; confirm its relevance with your customs broker if the consignment is waste.

Match the chemical identity and physical form to the commodity code, rather than copying a supplier's code. For other acids and esters in this heading, see the polycarboxylic acids and phthalates guide.

Specify hydrate form and assay basis

State whether you need anhydrous oxalic acid, dihydrate or aqueous solution. Agree whether assay is reported on the supplied material or an anhydrous basis. Specify intended use, assay method, moisture, insoluble matter, iron, sulphate and chloride acceptance criteria. For solutions, agree concentration and its measurement method. Request a batch certificate of analysis and an approved sample.

Before placing imported chemicals on the Great Britain market, importers must classify, label and package them under the applicable chemical classification rules. Hazardous chemicals supplied for workplace use need a safety data sheet. Confirm UK REACH registration obligations with HSE against your planned annual imports. Agree the packaging, storage instructions and documentation before ordering.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 20 bags of oxalic acid dihydrate, each weighing 25 kg under 2917 11 00 91, invoiced at £2,500 free on board, with £1,800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £4,300. Duty at 6% is £258. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £4,558, so it is £911.60. Import taxes total £1,169.60; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £258 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Identity: match the ordered hydrate form, chemical name and batch identity across the bags, certificate of analysis and safety data sheet.

Analysis: test a representative batch sample against the agreed assay basis, moisture and impurity criteria; retain a labelled sample.

Packaging: check liners, closures and seams for damage, leakage or dampness; record caking and visible contamination before accepting stock.

Documents: check chemical classification, labels and safety data sheet against the actual supplied product, including solution concentration where relevant.

What goes wrong

A quote that says only 'oxalic acid' leaves hydrate form and assay basis unresolved. Results become difficult to compare when the supplier and buyer use different reporting bases. Missing impurity criteria can also leave a batch unsuitable for the buyer's process despite an acceptable headline assay.

Split liners, wet bags and mixed batch paperwork complicate acceptance and traceability. Hold disputed stock separately, photograph the packaging and obtain batch-specific test results before agreeing a remedy. An analysis certificate does not replace chemical classification or a required safety data sheet.

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.