Sourcing oil antioxidants from China
Prepared lubricating-oil antioxidant additives from China carry 4% base UK duty, with qualifying suspensions giving a 0% to 4% range. Products sold in Great Britain must be classified and labelled under its chemical rules; check the UK REACH position for each substance. Cambridge China Bridge sources prepared lubricating-oil antioxidant additives.
4% base duty and product-specific suspensions
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, heading 3811 covers prepared additives for mineral oils and liquids used for the same purposes. This guide covers lubricating-oil antioxidant preparations. The tariff separates additives containing petroleum or bituminous mineral oils from other lubricating-oil additives. See the wider fuel and oil additives guide.
The selected lines carry 4% base duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measures or attached import controls in the supplied snapshot. Listed preparations under 3811 21 00 11 and 3811 29 00 75 have 0% suspensions, with exclusions for mixtures containing those products. The other selected lines have narrowly described suspensions, including authorised-use entries. These are not blanket relief for antioxidant blends; some supplied footnotes are incomplete, so confirm eligibility with your customs broker.
Give your broker the complete formulation, carrier-oil content and intended use to confirm the commodity code. Do not classify from an antioxidant trade name alone or claim a suspension merely because a listed ingredient is present.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oil-containing amino-polyisobutylenephenol dispersant and oxidation inhibitor | 3811 21 00 11 | 4% | None |
| Other prepared lubricating-oil antioxidants containing petroleum oils | 3811 21 00 90 | 4% | None |
| Listed tert-dodecylthiopropanol oxidation inhibitor for additive blending | 3811 29 00 75 | 4% | None |
| Other prepared lubricating-oil antioxidants without petroleum oils | 3811 29 00 90 | 4% | None |
Specify the antioxidant chemistry and blending performance
Specify the antioxidant chemistry, substance identities, active content, carrier oil and its proportion, appearance, viscosity, water content and insoluble matter. Agree the analytical methods and acceptance limits. State the intended base oil, other additives in the formulation, blending conditions and storage conditions.
Compare oxidation performance in your intended oil blend at the agreed treatment level. Check solubility, colour change, sediment and compatibility with the rest of the additive package. Approve a reference sample and require a batch-specific certificate of analysis.
For sale in Great Britain, substances and mixtures must be classified and labelled under its classification, labelling and packaging rules. UK REACH registration is assessed per substance and legal entity. Obtain an English safety data sheet and establish the UK REACH position for the components before ordering.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: drums of prepared lubricating-oil antioxidant concentrate under 3811 21 00 90, invoiced at £24,000 free on board, with £2,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £26,200. Duty at 4% is £1,048. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £27,248, so it is £5,449.60. Import taxes total £6,497.60; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,048 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Composition: compare active content and carrier-oil identity with the agreed formulation and batch certificate.
Condition: sample for appearance, viscosity, water and sediment; compare with the approved sample.
Performance: test oxidation resistance and compatibility in your intended lubricant blend using the agreed method.
Drums and documents: check seals, leaks, net contents, batch references, labels and the matching English safety data sheet. Plan sampling through the quality inspection guide.
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What goes wrong
Extra carrier oil can make a concentrate look acceptable while lowering its active content. A substituted antioxidant may dissolve in the supplier's test oil but precipitate in your blend. Water contamination, sediment or inconsistent batches can also undermine blending results.
A generic certificate or safety data sheet can describe a different formulation from the delivered batch. Hold material with unexplained differences for investigation before blending or resale. Keep a retained sample and record the batch used in each trial.
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 lubricating-oil antioxidants from China?
The selected lines carry 4% base duty. Qualifying listed products have 0% suspensions. The supplied tariff snapshot records no anti-dumping or countervailing measures on these lines.
Does an antioxidant blend automatically qualify for zero duty?
No. Suspensions are product-specific, and some exclude mixtures containing the listed product. Match the complete formulation and use to the tariff wording with your customs broker.
What should I ask a Chinese antioxidant supplier for?
Ask for substance identities, active and carrier-oil content, an English safety data sheet, a batch certificate and a sample for testing in your intended lubricant blend.
How do I check that the additive works in my oil?
Test oxidation resistance at the agreed treatment level in your intended base oil and additive package. Check solubility, sediment and colour against the approved sample.