Sourcing Pentaerythritol from China
Pentaerythritol from China carries 4% standard UK duty, with an autonomous suspension to 0%, giving a duty range of 0% to 4%. Buyers must establish their UK REACH registration responsibilities and classify the chemical for supply in Great Britain. Cambridge China Bridge sources pentaerythritol.
Pentaerythritol duty and suspension
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 6 November 2026, pentaerythritol falls under 2905 42 00 00 within heading 2905, which covers acyclic alcohols and their specified derivatives. The supplied tariff facts contain only this pentaerythritol line. Other products are covered in our wider glycols and polyols guide.
The standard duty for goods from China is 4%, with an autonomous suspension at 0.00 % and no anti-dumping or countervailing duty recorded. The tariff also attaches an export control for waste. Waste shipment controls apply only where the material is waste. If buying recovered or discarded material, ask your customs broker to confirm the applicable requirements before shipment.
Confirm the commodity code against the substance identity and composition, and ask your broker to check the suspension entry requirements before costing the order.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pentaerythritol | 2905 42 00 00 | 4% | None |
Specify the pentaerythritol composition
Specify pentaerythritol assay, dipentaerythritol content, moisture, ash, colour and particle size, with agreed test methods. State the intended process and approve a sample in that process. Request a batch certificate of analysis and agree moisture-resistant bags, liners and pallet protection.
For new registrants, HSE requires registration when a GB-based legal entity intends to import a substance at or above one tonne per year. Establish your UK REACH responsibilities before ordering. Chemical suppliers, including importers, are responsible for classification. Request the supplier's safety data sheet and check that its identity and composition match the ordered grade.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 15 tonnes of bagged pentaerythritol under 2905 42 00 00, 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 4% is £940. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £24,440, so it is £4,888. Import taxes total £5,828; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £940 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Identity: match bag markings, batch references and the certificate of analysis to the purchase order.
Composition: independently check assay, dipentaerythritol content and moisture against the agreed specification.
Condition: inspect for wet bags, damaged liners, hard lumps, discolouration and foreign material.
Process suitability: compare particle size and performance with the approved sample before releasing stock.
Working out your own order? Send us the product on WhatsApp and we reply the same working day: WhatsApp us
What goes wrong
A headline assay can hide differences in dipentaerythritol content or particle size. These can leave a batch unsuitable for the buyer's formulation even when the supplier calls it the same grade. Damp packing can also leave material difficult to handle. Agree acceptance criteria and retain a sealed sample from each batch.
A tariff suspension does not settle chemical compliance. Confirm registration responsibilities and classification separately from customs duty, and resolve mismatches between the certificate, safety data sheet and delivered bags before using or selling the batch.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on pentaerythritol from China?
The supplied tariff facts show 4% standard duty and an autonomous suspension to 0.00 % for 2905 42 00 00. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty is recorded. Confirm suspension entry requirements with your broker.
Do I need UK REACH registration for pentaerythritol?
HSE's new-registrant guidance requires registration for a GB-based legal entity intending to import a substance at or above one tonne per year. Establish how your imports will meet the applicable registration responsibilities.
What should a pentaerythritol certificate of analysis show?
Ask for batch identity, assay, dipentaerythritol content, moisture, ash, colour and particle size, using the agreed test methods. Match the certificate to the delivered batch.
How should I check pentaerythritol on arrival?
Check bag and liner integrity, moisture damage, lumps and contamination. Match batch references and independently test the agreed composition before releasing the material into production.