Sourcing Propionaldehyde from China

Propionaldehyde duty and classification

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 2912 covers aldehydes, their cyclic polymers and paraformaldehyde. For propionaldehyde, the candidate line is 2912 19 00 90, other acyclic aldehydes without other oxygen function. Its duty for goods from China is 4%, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. The table shows different buying specifications sharing this line.

The supplied tariff record attaches “Export control - Waste”. Ask your customs broker to confirm its relevance and the applicable requirements if the consignment is waste or is being returned as waste. Do not treat that export-control entry as a confirmed import requirement for fresh propionaldehyde.

Confirm the commodity code using the composition, additives and intended presentation. A solution or formulated mixture needs its own classification check. See the butyraldehyde guide for related buying questions within the wider heading.

Specify assay, water and impurities

Describe the purchase as propionaldehyde, also called propanal. Agree assay, water content, acidity, related aldehydes and any added stabiliser. State the analytical method and acceptance criteria rather than accepting an unexplained grade name. Request a batch certificate of analysis and a sample for a trial in your process.

For Great Britain, chemicals must be correctly labelled and packaged before being placed on the market. A safety data sheet is required for hazardous chemicals supplied for use at work. Confirm with HSE whether your annual substance imports require UK REACH registration; check your registration arrangements before ordering. Registration is per substance, per legal entity.

Agree container material, closure, seals and storage instructions against the safety data sheet. Dangerous goods must use correct packaging. Have the supplier and freight provider check transport suitability before dispatch.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 2 tonnes of propionaldehyde under 2912 19 00 90, invoiced at £3,500 free on board, with £1,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £4,700. Duty at 4% is £188. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £4,888, so it is £977.60. Import taxes total £1,165.60; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £188 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Identity: match the order, drum labels, safety data sheet and batch certificate to propionaldehyde and the agreed additives.

Analysis: check batch assay, water, acidity and impurity results against the agreed specification, with the analytical method recorded.

Containers: inspect seals, closures, damage and signs of leakage on arrival before releasing the batch for use.

Traceability: reconcile batch references and net contents with the packing list; retain a sample through an agreed safe sampling procedure.

What goes wrong

A purity result alone can conceal water or impurities that affect your reaction. A supplier may send a certificate for a different batch, omit an additive or substitute a grade with different acceptance criteria. Compare the full agreed specification and trial results before accepting a replacement.

Leaking closures, unexplained discolouration or inconsistent documents should trigger a hold for investigation. Ask the supplier for batch records and repeat analysis where appropriate. Use quality inspection to define the checks before dispatch.

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.