Sourcing scale wax from China
Scale wax from China carries 0% UK duty across the relevant lines of heading 2712, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty recorded. Confirm the code from the wax's composition and processing history, and check UK REACH registration before importing. Cambridge China Bridge sources scale wax.
Scale wax classification and zero duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 2712 covers petroleum jelly, paraffin wax, slack wax and other mineral waxes. Scale wax is a commercial description: ask the producer to explain its deoiling and refining stages. The table shows alternative lines to assess, rather than interchangeable codes for every scale wax shipment.
All listed lines carry 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record shows no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no attached import controls. The other-paraffin line has a zero-rate suspension excluding mixtures, preparations and multicomponent products containing the wax. The separate slack-wax line also has that suspension; neither changes the ordinary zero duty.
Confirm oil content, composition, processing history and intended use before choosing the commodity code. The low-oil paraffin line applies only where its description is met; crude processing lines also need the stated purpose. See the slack wax guide for the wider wax family. Prepared waxes with additives fall under heading 3404.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other processed mineral waxes | 2712 90 99 90 | 0% | None |
| Other crude mineral waxes, for other purposes | 2712 90 39 90 | 0% | None |
| Other crude mineral waxes, for a specific process | 2712 90 31 00 | 0% | None |
| Other paraffin wax containing less than 0.75% oil | 2712 20 90 00 | 0% | None |
Specify scale wax by oil content and behaviour
Write the agreed oil content, congealing or melting point, penetration, colour and odour into the purchase specification. State whether the wax will be used directly or refined further, and whether additives are permitted. Approve a sample in your actual formulation: the name scale wax alone does not establish that it will behave like fully refined candle wax.
Agree slab or pellet form, packaging, batch identification and the test methods used on the certificate of analysis. Ask for the production batch results rather than a generic grade sheet. Keep an approved sample for comparison with subsequent deliveries.
Check the UK REACH registration position with HSE before importing. If you have not previously imported the substance, consider whether registration is required. Before supplying it in Great Britain, ensure correct chemical labelling and packaging. A safety data sheet is required where the chemical is hazardous and supplied for workplace use.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 20 tonnes of scale wax slabs, illustrative only, subject to classification under 2712 90 99 90, invoiced at £24,000 free on board, with £1,800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £25,800. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £25,800, so it is £5,160. 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
Oil content: compare the batch analysis with the agreed specification and arrange an independent sample test.
Thermal behaviour: check congealing or melting point and penetration using the agreed methods; trial the delivered wax in your formulation.
Appearance: compare colour and odour with the approved sample, and inspect for dirt, fibres and visible oil separation.
Packing and records: check packaging damage, net weights and batch marks against the analysis certificate and supplied safety information. Use the inspection guide to define the checks before dispatch.
Working out your own order? Send us the product on WhatsApp and we reply the same working day: WhatsApp us
What goes wrong
A supplier's scale wax grade can have more residual oil than your formulation tolerates. Candle trials may sweat or mottle, while an unsuitable congealing point can produce soft or cracked candles. Colour and odour can also differ from the approved sample. Agree measurable acceptance criteria rather than accepting the supplier's grade name.
A clean sample does not establish that the shipment is consistent. Check production-lot samples and repeat the comparison on arrival. Damaged bags can introduce dirt or fibres, and an analysis certificate bearing a different batch mark cannot establish the delivered lot's properties. Hold discrepant stock for investigation before using it.
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 scale wax from China?
The supplied tariff record shows 0% across the relevant heading 2712 lines, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty. Confirm the exact code from the wax specification.
Which commodity code should I use for scale wax?
The trade name alone is insufficient. Confirm oil content, composition, processing history and use. The table gives alternative descriptions to assess with your customs broker.
Can I use scale wax directly in candles?
Trial it in your formulation first. Residual oil can cause sweating or mottling, and congealing point, colour and odour must match your specification.
Does scale wax need a safety data sheet?
A safety data sheet is required if the chemical is hazardous and supplied for workplace use. Ask for the product's hazard assessment and matching safety information before ordering.