Sourcing polyketone resin pellets from China

Duty and classification for polyketone pellets

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 3911 covers specified resins and other polymers in primary forms. The supplied file does not name polyketone separately. The table therefore shows the residual other-polymers line as a candidate for confirmation, rather than a confirmed classification. It does not supply enough distinct polyketone lines for a longer table.

The supplied lines carry 0% duty for goods from China, with no recorded anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no listed suspensions. The UK Trade Tariff attaches an import waste control and an export waste control. For pellets offered as waste or recovered material, confirm the China-to-UK requirements with your customs broker before shipment.

Give your broker the polymer identity, constituent monomers, additives, filler content and pellet form to confirm the commodity code. For the wider heading, see PPS resin sourcing.

Specify the polyketone grade and processing trial

Name the manufacturer and exact grade. Specify natural or coloured pellets, virgin or recycled content, reinforcement, melt flow test conditions, moisture acceptance, mechanical properties and intended moulding or extrusion process. Agree the drying and processing instructions with the supplier and trial the sample in your own equipment before accepting a production grade.

Confirm with HSE or your customs broker how UK REACH registration applies to the polymer, its monomers and reactants. Ask for constituent identities and the supplier's registration position. If you have not previously imported a particular substance, consider whether it requires UK REACH registration. Request a current safety data sheet and review any hazard classification before resale.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: one tonne of polyketone resin pellets, classification to be confirmed under 3911 90 99 90, invoiced at £3,000 free on board, with £120 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £3,120. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £3,120, so it is £624. 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 bag labels, manufacturer, grade and batch references to the purchase order and batch certificate.

Pellets and packing: inspect for fines, foreign pellets, discolouration, damaged liners and signs of moisture ingress.

Batch properties: compare measured melt flow, moisture and reinforcement content with the agreed specification using the agreed test conditions.

Processing trial: mould or extrude a retained batch sample and check surface defects, dimensions and performance against the approved sample.

What goes wrong

A substitute grade can process differently even when the bags say polyketone. Undeclared recycled content, reinforcement changes or contamination can alter flow and part performance. Wet or damaged packing can also disrupt processing. Keep batch samples and compare results before releasing the lot.

A generic resin certificate may omit the exact grade, test conditions or constituent information. Ask for corrections before shipment, and keep recovered or waste material separate from the purchase specification for prime pellets.

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.