Sourcing synthetic tanning agents from China
Synthetic organic tanning substances (syntans), inorganic tanning substances, tanning preparations and enzymatic preparations for pre-tanning from China pay 0% UK duty on both lines of heading 3202, with no anti-dumping duty. Buyers check the chemistry against the tannery's process, free formaldehyde or phenol content, and GB CLP labels, since several tanning agents are hazardous.
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0% duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 28 September 2026, heading 3202 covers synthetic organic tanning substances, inorganic tanning substances, tanning preparations whether or not containing natural tanning substances, and enzymatic preparations for pre-tanning. Both lines carried 0% on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure.
Vegetable tanning extracts are heading 3201; see our tannins guide. Basic chromium sulphate sold as a chemical may be classified in chapter 28; confirm the commodity code.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Synthetic organic tanning substances | 3202 10 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Inorganic tanning substances, tanning and pre-tanning preparations | 3202 90 00 00 | 0% | None |
Specification and hazards
Specify the type (phenolic, sulphone, acrylic, amino resin, chrome or aluminium based), active content, free formaldehyde and phenol limits, pH, colour, and packing. Ask for a technical data sheet and a trial on your leather.
Many tanning agents carry hazard classifications under GB CLP, and leather sold to consumers must not contain restricted substances such as chromium VI above the UK REACH limits, so ask how the product performs in finished-leather tests.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 10 tonnes of phenolic syntan under 3202 10 00 00, invoiced at £22,000 free on board, with £1,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £23,500. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £23,500, so it is £4,700. 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
Analysis: check active content and free formaldehyde.
Trial: test on your leather before bulk.
Documents: check GB CLP labels and the safety data sheet. See our quality inspection guide.
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What goes wrong
Tanning agent orders fail on consistency and restricted substances. Batches behave differently in the drum, free formaldehyde is high, and finished leather fails chromium VI testing.
Cambridge China Bridge sources materials for UK manufacturers with documents agreed before shipment. See factory verification.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on syntans from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 28 September 2026, synthetic organic tanning substances under 3202 10 00 00 carried 0% from China.
Are vegetable tannins in heading 3202?
No. Vegetable tanning extracts are heading 3201.
What should I test in finished leather?
Restricted substances such as chromium VI and formaldehyde, against UK REACH limits and customer specifications.
Do tanning agents need hazard labels?
Many do under GB CLP; ask for the safety data sheet.