Toluene, xylene and styrene from China

0% duty

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 26 September 2026, cyclic hydrocarbons of heading 2902 carried 0% on goods from China on all twelve lines: cyclohexane, benzene, toluene, ortho-, meta- and para-xylene, mixed xylenes, styrene, ethylbenzene, cumene and others. No line had an anti-dumping measure.

Solvent blends and thinners are mixtures classified elsewhere, and resins made from these monomers are in our hydrocarbon resins guide; confirm the commodity code from the purity on the certificate.

Hazards, restrictions and precursors

These are flammable class 3 liquids: toluene ships as UN 1294, xylenes as UN 1307, benzene as UN 1114 and stabilised styrene monomer as UN 2055, with approved packaging, labels and a dangerous goods declaration. Entry 5 of Annex XVII of UK REACH limits benzene in substances and mixtures supplied to the public, and entry 48 limits toluene in adhesives and spray paints for the public.

Toluene is listed in Category 3 of the Annex to retained Regulation (EC) No 111/2005 on drug precursors traded with third countries, so keep records of each import and customer. Importing one tonne or more a year needs a UK REACH registration or an only representative.

Grades and stability

Toluene and xylenes are sold as solvent or nitration grades on purity, benzene content, sulphur and distillation range; styrene monomer on purity, polymer content and the level of inhibitor, usually tert-butylcatechol, which has to last the voyage because styrene polymerises when warm.

Worked duty example

Take a hypothetical order of 20 tonnes of toluene in an ISO tank, entered under 2902 30 00 00: £18,000 free on board plus £3,000 of freight and insurance gives a customs value of £21,000. Toluene carry no duty, so import VAT of 20% on £21,000, £4,200, is the only tax. A VAT-registered importer normally reclaims it, so the border adds no lasting cost. Step by step: UK import duty and VAT.

Inspection checklist

Purity: test purity and impurities, including benzene in toluene, by gas chromatography on samples drawn from the tank or several drums, against the certificate of analysis for the lot.

Water and colour: measure water by the Karl Fischer method, for example as in ISO 760, and colour on the platinum-cobalt scale to ISO 6271, against the grade specification.

Styrene and packing: check styrene inhibitor level and polymer content on loading and on arrival, keep it cool in transit, and check tank cleaning certificates, UN markings and English safety data sheets for every load.

What goes wrong

Aromatic solvents fail on contamination, stability and paperwork. Toluene carries more benzene than the grade allows, tanks were not cleaned so earlier cargo taints the load, styrene polymerises in a hot container because the inhibitor ran out, and shipments are held for missing dangerous goods or precursor records.

Specify tank cleaning and inhibitor level in the contract, test the first load in a UK laboratory, and check documents before loading. See our quality inspection guide.

Cambridge China Bridge sources toluene, xylenes, styrene and other aromatics for chemical, resin and coatings producers, usually by the tank or full container. See container programmes.