Polycarboxylic acids and phthalates from China

Rates and suspensions

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 26 September 2026, polycarboxylic acids, their anhydrides, halides and peroxides and their derivatives of heading 2917 carried a base duty of 6% on goods from China on most lines, with no anti-dumping measure. Sebacic acid (2917 13 10 00) was 0%.

Suspensions matter here. Phthalic anhydride (2917 35 00 00) and terephthalic acid (2917 36 00 11 and 19) have 0% suspensions to 31 December 2026, and many listed specialty acids and esters, such as diethyl oxalate, diethyl malonate, itaconic acid and diallyl phthalate, have whole-line suspensions to the end of 2028. Adipic acid, maleic anhydride, DEHP and DOTP pay 6%. Check the chemical name and CAS number against the commodity code before quoting.

Restrictions, labels and grades

The ortho-phthalates DEHP, DBP, BBP and DIBP are on the UK REACH authorisation list, so they cannot be used in Great Britain without an authorisation, and UK REACH Annex XVII entry 51 limits them to 0.1% by weight in plasticised material in articles; most buyers now use non-ortho plasticisers such as DOTP. Importers of more than one tonne a year of a substance must check [UK REACH](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/how-to-comply-with-reach-chemical-regulations) registration.

Maleic anhydride and phthalic anhydride are respiratory and skin sensitisers, so they need GB CLP labels and a safety data sheet in English. Grades are bought on assay, acid value, colour, moisture, ash and iron; plasticisers used in food contact plastics must be listed in [retained Regulation (EU) No 10/2011](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/2011/10/contents).

Worked duty example

An invented example rather than a quote: 20 tonnes of adipic acid in 25 kg bags, commodity code 2917 12 00 10, bought for £26,000 free on board, with £1,800 of freight and insurance, so £27,800 is the value customs works from. Duty at the 6% rate for adipic acid is £1,668. VAT at 20% applies to £29,468, so £5,893.60. A VAT-registered buyer usually recovers the VAT, so the border adds £1,668 to the landed cost. See calculating UK import duty and VAT for the method.

What goes wrong

These chemicals fail on purity, identity and paperwork. Assay or colour misses the specification, so resins and polyesters discolour; a plasticiser sold as DOTP contains restricted ortho-phthalates; anhydrides pick up moisture and hydrolyse in bags; and the safety data sheet or CLP labels are missing or in Chinese only.

Test assay, acid value, colour and moisture on each lot against the certificate of analysis, screen plasticisers for DEHP, DBP, BBP and DIBP by gas chromatography, check bag and drum seals on anhydrides, confirm English safety data sheets and CLP labels, and keep a retained sample of each approved lot.

Cambridge China Bridge sources adipic acid, anhydrides, terephthalic acid and non-phthalate plasticisers for resin, polyester, PVC and coatings makers, including a second supplier to compare with an existing source. See how we add a second supplier.