Sourcing stearyl alcohol from China

Duty on industrial stearyl alcohol

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, heading 3823 covers industrial monocarboxylic fatty acids, acid oils from refining and industrial fatty alcohols. This guide concerns industrial stearyl alcohol. The table shows purchasing forms sharing the same tariff line, rather than separate commodity codes.

The supplied tariff record gives 0% duty for Chinese-origin industrial fatty alcohols under 3823 70 00 90, and for those of a kind used for animal feed under 3823 70 00 10. Neither line records anti-dumping or countervailing duty, a suspension or an attached import control. These tariff entries do not replace chemical compliance checks.

Confirm the actual composition, grade and intended use before choosing the commodity code. Do not classify from the product name alone. For the related industrial fatty-alcohol family, see our cetyl alcohol guide.

Specify the stearyl alcohol composition

Specify the stearyl alcohol content and permitted proportions of other fatty alcohols, especially cetyl alcohol. Agree the analytical method, melting range, moisture, acid value, colour and odour. State whether you want flakes, pellets or powder, the feedstock origin and the intended formulation. Request a batch certificate of analysis and a sample for a trial in your own process.

Confirm with HSE which UK REACH requirements apply to the substance and annual import quantity. Registration is per substance and legal entity. Confirm the registration position against the actual composition before ordering. Ensure correct labelling and packaging before placing the material on the Great Britain market.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 3,000 kg of industrial stearyl alcohol flakes under 3823 70 00 90, invoiced at £30,000 free on board, with £3,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £33,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £33,000, so it is £6,600. 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

Composition: compare the batch analysis with the agreed stearyl and cetyl alcohol profile, using independent testing where needed.

Performance: check melting behaviour, colour and odour, then trial the material in the intended formulation against the approved sample.

Packaging: check seals, moisture ingress, contamination and caking; confirm that the physical form suits your handling equipment.

Traceability: match bag labels, batch identifiers, delivered weights and analysis documents. Use our quality inspection guide to plan the checks.

What goes wrong

A supplier may offer a mixed fatty-alcohol grade against a stearyl alcohol enquiry. A different composition can change melting behaviour and formulation consistency even when the material looks similar. Reject unexplained substitutions and compare each delivered batch with the agreed specification.

Wet packaging, foreign particles, persistent odour or heavy caking are reasons to hold the batch for investigation. An analysis certificate without a matching batch identifier provides weak acceptance evidence. Agree sampling and rejection criteria before shipment.

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.