Sourcing propylene carbonate from China

Propylene carbonate: base duty and checks

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 6 November 2026, heading 2920 covers esters of other inorganic acids of non-metals and their salts and derivatives. The residual carbonic ester line, 2920 90 10 90, is the candidate for separately supplied propylene carbonate. The table includes related carbonate solvents for comparison; they are different substances.

The candidate line carries 6% base duty for China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measure recorded. It has a 0.00 % suspension for specified substances, but the supplied footnote is truncated, so propylene carbonate eligibility remains unconfirmed. The tariff also attaches dangerous-chemical and waste export controls; ask your customs broker to confirm their relevance to this import.

Give your broker the substance identity, composition, purity and intended use to confirm the commodity code and any suspension before shipment. A formulated blend needs its own classification check. See the ethylene carbonate guide for the wider heading context.

Specify propylene carbonate by application

State whether the material is for electrolyte development, laboratory work or industrial processing. Agree assay, water content, acidity, colour and metal impurity limits, together with test methods. Ask for a batch certificate of analysis and a retained sample. Treat 'battery grade' as a description requiring agreed acceptance criteria.

For Great Britain, confirm your UK REACH registration position and any only-representative coverage with HSE before importing. Confirm with HSE when a safety data sheet should be provided or updated, and which chemical classification and labelling responsibilities apply to your supply.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative drum-packed pilot order of propylene carbonate, using the base duty pending classification and suspension checks under 2920 90 10 90, invoiced at £2,500 free on board, with £1,410 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £3,910. Duty at 6% is £234.60. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £4,144.60, so it is £828.92. Import taxes total £1,063.52; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £234.60 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Identity: match the purchase order, drum labels, analysis certificate and safety data sheet to propylene carbonate and the delivered batch.

Analysis: independently check assay, water by Karl Fischer titration, acidity and agreed metals against the specification.

Packing: check closures, seals, leakage and contamination; confirm that the agreed moisture protection survived transport.

Records: reconcile batch identifiers and delivered quantities, and retain arrival photographs and samples. Use a written inspection brief.

What goes wrong

A high assay can conceal unacceptable moisture or trace impurities. Poor closures can undermine moisture protection, while a generic analysis certificate may describe a different batch. Check the delivered material rather than accepting a grade name or an earlier sample.

Another carbonate's suspension does not establish eligibility for propylene carbonate. Resolve the incomplete tariff footnote with your broker before budgeting for relief. Keep off-spec material separate while investigating; if material is to be shipped as waste under notification controls, confirm the consent requirements with the relevant authorities before shipment.

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.