Rubber and plastic additives from China

0% on every line

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 26 September 2026, prepared rubber accelerators, compound plasticisers for rubber or plastics, and anti-oxidising preparations and other compound stabilisers for rubber or plastics, heading 3812, carried 0% on goods from China on all twenty-eight lines, with no anti-dumping measure.

Heading 3812 takes preparations and mixtures. A single chemically defined accelerator, antioxidant or plasticiser, such as mercaptobenzothiazole or a pure phthalate ester, is classified in chapter 29 and may carry duty; see our thiazoles and heterocyclics guide. Confirm the commodity code from the composition on the safety data sheet.

Phthalates, SVHCs and food contact

Entry 51 of [Annex XVII of UK REACH](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/2006/1907/annex/XVII) limits DEHP, DBP, BBP and DIBP in plasticised material in articles, and entry 52 limits DINP, DIDP and DNOP in toys and childcare articles that can be put in the mouth, so plasticiser choice follows the end product. Ask for the composition and whether any substance of very high concern is present above 0.1%.

Antioxidants and stabilisers for plastic food packaging must be authorised substances under retained [Regulation (EU) No 10/2011](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/2011/10/contents), so ask the supplier to confirm the listing and any restriction for each additive. See UK REACH for importers.

Specifying additives

Accelerators are bought by chemical type and form, such as oil-treated powder, granules or pre-dispersed masterbatch; plasticisers on ester type, colour, acid value and volatility; antioxidants and UV stabilisers on active content, melting range and particle form. Name the grade you use today, because compounders set cure and ageing around it.

Pre-dispersed and granulated forms reduce dust in the mixing room, which matters because several accelerators are skin sensitisers.

Worked duty example

Take a hypothetical order of 16 tonnes of TMQ rubber antioxidant granules, entered under 3812 31 00 00: £32,000 free on board plus £1,600 of freight and insurance gives a customs value of £33,600. Rubber antioxidant carry no duty, so import VAT of 20% on £33,600, £6,720, is the only tax. A VAT-registered importer normally reclaims it, so the border adds no lasting cost. Step by step: UK import duty and VAT.

Inspection checklist

Accelerators: test sulfenamide accelerators by the methods of ISO 11235, and other types for melting range, heat loss, ash and sieve residue against the certificate of analysis, then run a cure curve in your standard compound against the current grade.

Plasticisers: check colour on the platinum-cobalt scale to ISO 6271, acid value and water content, and ester composition by gas chromatography, including a screen for restricted phthalates.

Stabilisers and packing: check active content and melting range for antioxidants and UV stabilisers, and check bags or drums are sealed, labelled with lot and hazard pictograms, and supplied with an English safety data sheet.

What goes wrong

Rubber and plastic additives fail on purity, form and paperwork. An accelerator with more free amine or a lower melting point scorches compounds early, a plasticiser sold as a non-phthalate contains restricted phthalates, powders cake or dust badly, and a stabiliser grade is swapped for a cheaper chemistry that fails ageing or yellowing tests.

Approve each additive in your own compound, test incoming lots, screen plasticisers for phthalates, and keep the safety data sheets and composition statements on file. See our quality inspection guide.

Cambridge China Bridge sources accelerators, plasticisers and stabilisers for rubber and plastics compounders, and can take on your existing Chinese producer and check each lot. See existing supplier support.