Sourcing slack wax from China

Slack wax duty and classification

Heading 2712 covers slack wax alongside petroleum jelly, paraffin wax and other mineral waxes. The named crude slack-wax line for other purposes is 2712 90 39 10. The table includes neighbouring crude-wax lines for comparison; they are not interchangeable codes for the same consignment.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, all selected lines carried 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing measures and no attached import controls. The named slack-wax line also has a 0.00 % autonomous suspension, excluding mixtures, preparations and products made up of different components containing the wax. It gives no further saving while ordinary duty is zero.

Confirm the substance identity, crude status and intended processing with your customs broker, using our commodity-code guide. For refined wax and other products within the heading, see the paraffin wax and petroleum jelly guide.

Specify oil content and congealing behaviour

Specify oil content, congealing or melting point, needle penetration, colour and odour. Agree the test methods, acceptance limits, delivery form and packaging in the purchase specification. Ask for a batch certificate of analysis and test a representative sample in your intended process before accepting the grade.

For imports into Great Britain, confirm the applicable UK REACH registration requirements with HSE; see our UK REACH guide. Chemical classification is the supplier's responsibility, including importers. Labels and packaging must be correct before placing chemicals on the market. A safety data sheet is required when hazardous wax is supplied for use at work.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 20 tonnes of slack wax for industrial processing under 2712 90 39 10, 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 result with the agreed limit and independently test a representative sample.

Congealing behaviour: check congealing or melting point and needle penetration against the approved specification.

Appearance and packing: check colour, odour, dirt, fibres, damaged packaging and escaping oil on arrival.

Records: match batch identifiers to the analysis certificate, substance identity, safety data sheet where required, and package labels.

What goes wrong

Buying on the description 'wax' alone can bring a grade with the wrong oil content or congealing behaviour. Oil above the intended grade can cause sweating or mottling in candles. Colour, odour and contamination can also make an otherwise usable industrial batch unsuitable for your process.

A clean sample does not establish the condition of the shipment. Compare the delivered batch with retained samples and its analysis certificate, and record packaging damage before unloading is completed. Agree sampling and checks through our inspection guide.

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.