Sourcing solvent dyes from China
Solvent dyes from China carry 6% standard UK duty, with conditional suspensions to 0% for named products. Match the chemical identity and composition to the tariff line, and check UK REACH registration and chemical labelling duties before supplying in Great Britain. Cambridge China Bridge sources solvent dyes.
Solvent-dye duty and conditional suspensions
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, the selected solvent-dye lines in heading 3204 carried 6% standard duty for goods from China. The supplied facts record no anti-dumping or countervailing duty. This guide covers solvent dyes and their preparations; see the wider dyes and organic colourants guide for other product families.
Solvent Yellow 98 and Solvent Yellow 172 have 0% suspensions, subject to the listed product descriptions and exclusions for mixtures, preparations or products containing different components. Other solvent dyes under 3204 19 00 90 have product-specific suspensions, but the supplied footnotes are truncated. Do not assume a suspension applies from the sales name alone. Confirm the full conditions before claiming relief.
The UK Trade Tariff attaches veterinary control and import and export waste controls to these lines. Confirm their application to the actual Chinese shipment with your customs broker, particularly any animal-derived component or material supplied as waste. For waste imports into England under notification controls, the exporter applies to the dispatch-country authority for consent. Confirm the commodity code using chemical identity, composition and intended use.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solvent Red 135 and preparations, dye content at least 90% by weight | 3204 19 00 74 | 6% | None |
| Solvent Yellow 98 and preparations, dye content at least 95% by weight | 3204 19 00 77 | 6% | None |
| Other solvent dyes and mixtures, subject to classification | 3204 19 00 90 | 6% | None |
| Solvent Yellow 172, also called Yellow 135, content at least 90% by weight | 3204 90 00 10 | 6% | None |
Specify the dye and the application medium
Specify the Colour Index identity, chemical identity, dye content, powder or solution form, carrier solvent and intended application. Give the factory your actual solvent blend or polymer, processing conditions and retained colour standard. Agree how to measure shade, colour strength, dissolution, filter residue and stability rather than accepting a photograph of coloured powder.
For Great Britain, confirm UK REACH registration arrangements with HSE or a qualified chemical compliance adviser, including any coverage by the manufacturer's appointed only representative. Confirm whether an English safety data sheet and hazard labels are required under the applicable chemical rules. These are separate checks from tariff suspension eligibility.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 5 tonnes of Solvent Red 135 powder under 3204 19 00 74, invoiced at £30,000 free on board, with £2,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £32,000. Duty at 6% is £1,920. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £33,920, so it is £6,784. Import taxes total £8,704; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,920 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Identity: match the container label, batch number and analysis certificate to the agreed dye and composition.
Dissolution: test a retained batch sample in the agreed solvent blend; check sediment, filter residue and changes after storage.
Colour and performance: compare shade and strength with the approved standard in the actual application; check heat stability, light exposure and migration where relevant to your specification.
Packaging and paperwork: check seals, leakage, moisture ingress and batch traceability; compare the safety data sheet and hazard label with the supplied formulation.
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What goes wrong
A dye can match the sample colour yet dissolve poorly in the buyer's solvent blend. Undissolved material blocks filters or leaves specks, while variable strength changes the shade at the same addition rate. In plastic applications, insufficient heat stability or migration can spoil a result that looked acceptable in a room-temperature solution.
A factory may substitute a carrier or blend dyes without updating the specification. That can change performance, chemical paperwork and suspension eligibility. Retain samples from accepted batches and agree application testing before release. Request the complete suspension wording where the tariff extract is truncated.
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 solvent dyes from China?
The selected lines carry 6% standard duty. Named products may qualify for conditional 0% suspensions. The supplied tariff facts record no anti-dumping or countervailing duty.
Can Solvent Red 135 enter duty-free?
The supplied facts show 6% duty for 3204 19 00 74, covering dye content of at least 90% by weight, with no suspension recorded.
Do I need UK REACH registration for solvent dyes?
For Great Britain, confirm registration arrangements with HSE or a qualified chemical compliance adviser, including whether the manufacturer's appointed only representative covers your imports.
How do I check that a solvent dye will work in my ink?
Test the actual solvent blend and formulation against a retained standard. Compare dissolution, filter residue, shade, colour strength and storage stability using the agreed method.