Sourcing reclaimed rubber from China
Reclaimed rubber from China, devulcanised rubber made from scrap tyres or rubber products and sold in sheets or blocks for compounding, pays 0% UK duty under the single code 4003 00 00 00, with no anti-dumping duty. The tariff attaches a waste import control, and buyers check the source material, tensile strength, elongation, Mooney viscosity, ash and odour.
0% duty and the waste control
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 17 November 2026, heading 4003 covers reclaimed rubber in primary forms or in plates, sheets or strip. It is a single code carrying 0% on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure.
The code carries the waste import control. Reclaimed rubber that is a finished material rather than waste clears on a declaration that it is not waste under the retained waste shipments regulation; scrap rubber, crumb and granules are other headings, and scrap may be waste. Confirm the commodity code.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reclaimed rubber in primary forms or in plates, sheets or strip | 4003 00 00 00 | 0% | None |
Specifying reclaimed rubber
Specify the source (whole tyre, butyl tube, EPDM or latex), rubber hydrocarbon content, ash, acetone extract, tensile strength, elongation at break, Mooney viscosity, fineness and odour, and packing in wrapped sheets or bales. Ask for a certificate of analysis per lot and approve a trial compound.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 20 tonnes of reclaimed tyre rubber in sheets under 4003 00 00 00, invoiced at £9,000 free on board, with £1,800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £10,800. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £10,800, so it is £2,160. 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
Properties: test tensile, elongation and Mooney on samples against the certificate.
Contamination: check for fibre, metal and grit, and assess odour.
Packing: check sheets are separated with film or dusting and bales are marked by lot. See our quality inspection guide.
Working out your own order? Send us the product on WhatsApp and we reply the same working day: WhatsApp us
What goes wrong
Reclaimed rubber orders fail on consistency and contamination. Properties vary between lots, fibre or metal remains, sheets stick together in heat, and a strong odour makes the rubber unusable in consumer products.
Cambridge China Bridge sources rubber materials for UK compounders from small lots; see small orders.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on reclaimed rubber from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 17 November 2026, reclaimed rubber under 4003 00 00 00 carried 0% from China.
Is reclaimed rubber treated as waste?
The code carries the waste import control; reclaimed rubber that is a finished material rather than waste clears on a not-waste declaration.
What is the difference between reclaimed rubber and crumb?
Reclaimed rubber is devulcanised for compounding; crumb and granules are ground scrap, classified elsewhere.
What properties should I test?
Tensile strength, elongation, Mooney viscosity, ash and odour against the certificate.