Sourcing SBR primary forms from China

0% duty on the relevant rubber lines

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 6 November 2026, the relevant styrene-butadiene rubber lines within heading 4002 carried 0% duty for goods from China. They cover latex, emulsion-polymerised rubber in bales, solution-polymerised rubber in bales and other styrene-butadiene or carboxylated styrene-butadiene rubber. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspensions for these lines.

The UK Trade Tariff attaches waste import and export controls to these lines. For material from China that is waste, ask your customs broker to confirm the applicable requirement before shipment. For notified waste entering England, shipment cannot proceed until the competent authorities of destination, dispatch and transit have consented.

Unvulcanised rubber mixed with fillers or curatives belongs to heading 4005. Confirm the commodity code using composition, production method and physical form. See the synthetic rubber guide for the wider heading.

Specify the SBR grade and processing behaviour

State whether you need emulsion or solution styrene-butadiene rubber, carboxylated rubber or latex. Agree the factory grade, bound styrene, Mooney viscosity, oil content and antioxidant type. For latex, specify total solids, acidity or alkalinity, particle size and acceptable coagulum. Ask for a batch certificate of analysis and test the proposed grade in your compounder's own recipe.

For oil-extended rubber intended for tyre compounds, confirm applicable UK REACH PAH restrictions with HSE and obtain evidence identifying the extender oil used. Confirm separately whether registration or an exemption applies to the polymer, monomers and additives. Agree packaging, storage conditions and maximum age at loading.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 20 tonnes of emulsion-polymerised styrene-butadiene rubber in bales under 4002 19 10 00, invoiced at £40,000 free on board, with £2,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £42,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £42,000, so it is £8,400. 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

Grade and batch: match package markings and certificates to the approved grade, production batch and oil content.

Bale properties: compare Mooney viscosity, bound styrene, volatile matter and ash with the agreed specification; sample across the consignment.

Processing: mix the agreed test recipe and compare cure curves and vulcanisate properties with the approved batch.

Packing and latex: check bale wrapping, sticking, contamination and weight; inspect latex containers for leakage and test solids, acidity or alkalinity and coagulation.

What goes wrong

A similar grade name can hide different viscosity, styrene or oil content. Mixing and extrusion then change, while a staining antioxidant can discolour pale compounds. Hot storage can leave bales stuck together; freezing or extended storage can coagulate latex.

Approve material in the intended compound before bulk purchasing. Agree batch acceptance tests and keep retained samples so arrival results can be compared with pre-shipment results. Use the quality inspection guide to organise the checks.

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.