Sourcing polymer antioxidant blends from China

UK duty on prepared antioxidant blends

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 6 November 2026, heading 3812 covers prepared rubber accelerators, compound plasticisers and anti-oxidising preparations and other compound stabilisers. This guide focuses on antioxidant preparations for polymers. The table repeats the anti-oxidising preparations code for different supplied forms; these are not separate tariff lines.

The relevant antioxidant lines carry 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing measures, suspensions or attached import controls for these lines. Chemical compliance still needs checking separately.

Confirm the commodity code using the full composition and safety data sheet. A single chemically defined antioxidant belongs in chapter 29 rather than being treated automatically as a preparation. See the rubber and plastic additives guide for the wider heading.

Specify the blend and its polymer application

Specify each active ingredient, its proportion and any carrier, alongside the polymer, processing conditions and intended end use. Agree active content, melting range, moisture, particle form and the batch analysis methods. Approve the blend in your own compound rather than accepting a supplier's grade name as proof of equivalence.

Confirm UK REACH registration obligations for each constituent substance with HSE, taking account of your annual import tonnage. Registration is per substance, per legal entity. Classifying and labelling substances or mixtures must be carried out by someone with scientific competence.

For plastic food packaging, confirm with the Food Standards Agency the applicable authorisation requirements for the additives and intended use. Ask the supplier to identify the listing and restrictions for each additive, then check these against your intended application.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 16 tonnes of rubber antioxidant granules under 3812 31 00 00, invoiced at £32,000 free on board, with £1,600 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £33,600. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £33,600, so it is £6,720. 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

Composition: compare batch analysis with the agreed active ingredients, proportions and carrier; investigate any substitution.

Physical condition: check active content, melting range, moisture and particle form against the agreed specification; look for caking and excessive fines.

Application: compare ageing and yellowing performance in your own polymer compound with the approved sample.

Packing and documents: check seals, batch identification, applicable hazard pictograms and the English safety data sheet. Retain a sample linked to the delivery. See quality inspection explained.

What goes wrong

A changed active ratio or substituted chemistry can pass a superficial appearance check yet fail ageing or yellowing tests. Caked powder and inconsistent granules can also make handling and dosing unreliable. Agree acceptance tests before ordering and compare incoming batches with the approved formulation.

A generic safety data sheet can leave the actual blend unclear. Request composition and batch documents for the supplied grade, check registration obligations and arrange competent classification and labelling before selling in Great Britain.

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.