Sourcing reactive PU hot melts from China
Reactive polyurethane hot melt adhesives from China normally carry 6% UK duty. Listed suspensions reduce duty to 0% only for qualifying goods, not every polyurethane adhesive. Reactive mixtures usually need English hazard labels and a safety data sheet for business customers. Cambridge China Bridge sources reactive polyurethane hot melt adhesives.
Normally 6% duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 3506 covers prepared glues and adhesives. Bulk reactive polyurethane hot melts should be assessed against 3506 91 90 99, carrying 6% duty from China. Retail adhesive packs not exceeding 1 kg fall under 3506 10 00 00, also at 6%. The table includes comparison lines, not alternative codes a buyer can choose for a lower rate.
The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty. It lists a 0.00 % suspension for specified goods under 3506 91 90 99, with a truncated product description, and a narrowly specified polyurethane cartridge adhesive under 3506 99 00 00. Do not assume your reactive hot melt qualifies. The tariff also attaches waste controls and, under 3506 91 90 99, fluorinated greenhouse gas import controls; confirm the applicable requirements with your customs broker.
For England, waste shipment controls apply only when the material is waste. Confirm the status of any recovered or discarded adhesive before shipment. Ask your broker to check composition, presentation and any suspension against the full tariff wording using finding your commodity code. For the wider hot melt family, see hot melt adhesive sticks.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other polymer-based adhesives, including bulk reactive polyurethane hot melts | 3506 91 90 99 | 6% | None |
| Adhesives put up for retail sale in packs not exceeding 1 kg | 3506 10 00 00 | 6% | None |
| Other prepared adhesives; compare classification before using this line | 3506 99 00 00 | 6% | None |
| Optically clear display adhesives; comparison line, not ordinary reactive hot melt | 3506 91 10 00 | 0% | None |
Specify the adhesive and the application process
Specify reactive polyurethane chemistry rather than ordinary thermoplastic hot melt. Name the substrates, surface treatment, application equipment and required bond performance. Agree melt viscosity at the intended application temperature, working time, initial holding strength and the conditions for assessing the fully cured bond.
Agree moisture-barrier packaging, seal design, storage conditions and usable life after opening. Request a technical data sheet, batch identification and the free diisocyanate content. Confirm with HSE which hazard pictograms, signal words, hazard statements and safety data sheets are required for the actual formulation and business customers, including the applicable language requirements. Review UK REACH registration responsibilities by substance and legal entity before ordering.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: An illustrative small-business order of sealed drums of reactive polyurethane hot melt adhesive under 3506 91 90 99, invoiced at £18,000 free on board, with £1,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £19,500. Duty at 6% is £1,170. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £20,670, so it is £4,134. Import taxes total £5,304; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,170 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Packaging: check drum liners, lids and seals for punctures, leakage and evidence of moisture entry.
Batch condition: check manufacture and expiry information against the agreed shelf life; sample for skinning, lumps and inconsistent melt flow.
Application: run the adhesive through the intended equipment and check wetting, working time and initial holding strength on the actual substrates.
Documents and bonds: match labels and the safety data sheet to the supplied formulation; test cured bonds after the agreed conditioning and exposure.
Working out your own order? Send us the product on WhatsApp and we reply the same working day: WhatsApp us
What goes wrong
Moisture entering the pack can start curing before use, causing skins, lumps and blocked application equipment. A sample tested on clean laboratory panels may bond differently to coated boards, treated films or production surfaces. Approve the adhesive through an application trial using the intended substrates and equipment.
Early holding strength can hide poor final adhesion. Agree when and how cured bonds will be tested, retain batch samples and record storage conditions. Avoid accepting a generic polyurethane safety data sheet or a suspension claim based only on the product name.
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 reactive polyurethane hot melt adhesive from China?
Normally 6% under 3506 91 90 99; retail packs not exceeding 1 kg also carry 6%. Listed suspensions apply only to qualifying goods. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty.
Is reactive polyurethane hot melt the same as hot melt glue sticks?
No. Reactive polyurethane hot melt develops its final bond through moisture curing. Specify the chemistry and application process rather than accepting an ordinary thermoplastic stick adhesive.
What chemical documents should I request?
Request the formulation-specific safety data sheet, English hazard label artwork and technical data sheet. Review UK REACH responsibilities by substance and legal entity, and ask for free diisocyanate content.
How do I check a shipment before using it?
Check seals, batch identity and shelf life, then inspect a sample for skins or lumps. Run an application trial and assess both initial holding strength and the fully cured bond on your production substrates.