Sourcing styrene oxide from China

Styrene oxide duty and tariff controls

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 10 November 2026, styrene oxide is listed as phenyloxirane, chemical identity 96-09-3, under 2910 90 00 25. Heading 2910 covers epoxides and related compounds. The supplied tariff data contains only one dedicated styrene oxide line; other products are covered in our epichlorohydrin and epoxides guide.

The duty for goods from China is 0%. No anti-dumping or countervailing measure or suspension is recorded for this line. The tariff attaches a control labelled “Export control - Waste”. Ask your customs broker to confirm its applicability to the proposed movement, particularly if the material is waste.

Give your broker the chemical identity, composition, intended use and safety data sheet to confirm the commodity code. Confirm classification separately for formulated mixtures. For the calculation method, see UK import duty and VAT.

Specify styrene oxide identity and batch quality

Specify styrene oxide by chemical identity 96-09-3 and agree assay, water, colour and an impurity profile. Ask the factory to identify residual styrene and other impurities in its proposed specification. Agree gas chromatography for assay and impurities, and a water test method. Request batch results rather than a generic product specification.

State whether you need racemic material or a particular optical form. Agree how the laboratory will verify that requirement. Record any additives, packaging material, closure type and storage instructions, and qualify a sample in your intended process before approving the production batch.

For Great Britain, check UK REACH registration before ordering. Ask HSE to confirm the registration requirements and whether coverage through an only representative is appropriate for your annual import volume and supply arrangements. Chemicals placed on the market must comply with classification and labelling rules, and be correctly packaged. Hazardous chemicals supplied for workplace use require a safety data sheet.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative drummed order for a small chemical distributor under 2910 90 00 25, invoiced at £24,000 free on board, with £3,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £27,500. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £27,500, so it is £5,500. 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

Identity: match the order, container labels, safety data sheet and batch certificate to styrene oxide and the agreed optical form.

Analysis: compare independently tested assay, water and agreed impurities with the purchase specification and the factory’s batch results.

Containers: check closures, seals, leaks, corrosion and contamination; record damaged containers before accepting the delivery.

Documents: check batch traceability and consistency between the safety data sheet, labels and shipping description. Plan sampling with the receiving laboratory. See quality inspection explained.

What goes wrong

A quotation saying only “styrene oxide” leaves the assay method, impurity limits and optical form unresolved. A sample can pass while the delivered batch falls outside the agreed specification. Prevent disputes by agreeing test methods, acceptance criteria and a retained batch sample before production.

Leaks, mismatched batch certificates and inconsistent chemical descriptions complicate receipt and release. Hold suspect containers for assessment and resolve document discrepancies before using or reselling the material.

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.