Sourcing triethyl phosphate from China

Triethyl phosphate duty and classification

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 6 November 2026, triethyl phosphate, chemical identity 78-40-0, falls under 2919 90 00 50 within heading 2919 for phosphoric esters and their salts. Duty on goods from China is 0%, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measure and no suspension recorded. The table shows buying specifications for the same commodity line, rather than separate tariff classifications.

The tariff attaches entries labelled export control on dangerous chemicals and export control for waste. Ask your customs broker to confirm their relevance to your shipment, including any return shipment. Confirm with HSE whether prior informed consent notification or annual quantity reporting requirements apply to your imports. Confirm whether your chemical is listed rather than assuming that the tariff entry establishes this.

Match the substance identity and composition to the commodity code before ordering. Use the phosphate flame retardants guide for the wider heading; other phosphate esters are not interchangeable descriptions of triethyl phosphate.

Specify triethyl phosphate by batch

Write the purchase specification around triethyl phosphate identity, assay, water, acid value and colour. Agree test methods, acceptance criteria, permitted impurities and whether reclaimed material is acceptable. Request a certificate of analysis tied to the production batch, then qualify a sample in your own formulation.

For Great Britain, check UK REACH responsibilities against annual substance volume. Confirm applicable registration requirements with HSE, including whether your imports can be covered by an appointed only representative. Confirm the importer's chemical classification duties and the supply chain's labelling and packaging responsibilities with HSE before placing chemicals on the market.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative drum order of triethyl phosphate under 2919 90 00 50, invoiced at £2,500 free on board, with £980 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £3,480. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £3,480, so it is £696. 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 and assay: compare the batch certificate, container identification and laboratory result with the agreed triethyl phosphate specification.

Water and acidity: test a representative batch sample against the agreed limits before releasing it into production.

Colour and appearance: check colour against the approved sample and investigate haze, sediment or unexpected variation.

Packing and documents: inspect seals, leaks and batch markings; compare labels and the English safety data sheet with the substance supplied.

What goes wrong

A purity result alone can hide unsuitable water or acidity. These can interfere with polyurethane catalysts and foam behaviour. A certificate copied from an earlier batch also leaves the delivered material unverified. Hold suspect material pending repeat testing and a formulation trial.

Supplier paperwork does not settle your UK REACH responsibilities. Resolve registration coverage before shipment and retain the link between drums, samples and batch results. The quality inspection guide explains how to organise inspection evidence.

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.