Sourcing phenyl silicone oils from China

6% duty on ordinary phenyl silicone oils

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 3910 covers silicones in primary forms. Ordinary phenyl silicone oils fall within the general other-silicones line, subject to confirmation of the actual composition. The table repeats that line for commercial oil descriptions; these are not separate tariff subdivisions. See the wider silicone guide.

Goods from China carry 6% duty, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty shown in the supplied tariff data. The 0.00 % suspensions under the general line cover specified addition-curing mixtures and listed intermediates or methacrylate-ended polymers. Ordinary phenyl silicone oil does not qualify merely because it is a silicone. Confirm the commodity code against the formulation.

The tariff attaches import and export waste controls. Waste shipment controls apply only where the material is waste. For a shipment from China into England under notification controls, the exporter must seek consent through the dispatch-country authority; shipment requires consent from the Environment Agency and other competent authorities involved. For recovered or discarded oil, ask your customs broker to confirm the applicable control before shipping.

Specify phenyl content and oil behaviour

Specify the polymer identity, phenyl content and how it is measured, end groups, viscosity with test temperature and method, appearance, volatile content and residual cyclic siloxanes. State whether the oil is unblended or contains solvents or additives. For optical use, agree refractive index and clarity; for heat-transfer or insulating use, agree application tests using your equipment and materials.

Ask for the technical data sheet, safety data sheet and a batch certificate of analysis tied to the agreed specification. Check the UK REACH registration position for siloxane monomers and additives. Importers must meet Great Britain chemical classification, labelling and packaging duties. A safety data sheet is required for hazardous chemicals supplied for workplace use.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 5 tonnes of phenyl silicone oil in sealed drums under 3910 00 00 90, invoiced at £17,000 free on board, with £1,400 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £18,400. Duty at 6% is £1,104. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £19,504, so it is £3,900.80. Import taxes total £5,004.80; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,104 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Identity: check the drum grade and batch number against the order, analysis certificate and approved sample.

Viscosity: test an arrival sample using the agreed temperature and method; compare with the contractual acceptance range.

Composition: check phenyl content, end groups and volatile content against the specification; investigate haze, sediment or unexpected odour.

Packing: check seals, leaks, contamination and batch traceability before releasing drums into production. Arrange quality inspection around these checks.

What goes wrong

Matching viscosity can hide a different phenyl content or end-group chemistry. A replacement grade may behave differently in your formulation or equipment. Excess volatiles can cause odour or fogging, while contamination or leaking drums can make a batch unusable. Compare the production batch with the approved sample and keep a retained sample.

A generic silicone certificate may omit the property that matters to your application. Put the test method and acceptance criteria in the order, and hold a disputed batch until the results are resolved. Do not cost ordinary phenyl oil using a suspension intended for a different silicone formulation.

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.