Sourcing triethylamine from China

6% duty, with a purity-based suspension

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 6 November 2026, heading 2921 covers amine-function compounds. Triethylamine falls within the residual line 2921 19 99 90, carrying 6% duty for goods from China. Its autonomous suspension gives 0% for triethylamine, chemical identity 121-44-8, with purity by weight of 99.7% or more. The suspension excludes mixtures, preparations and products made up of different components. No anti-dumping or countervailing measure is recorded for this line.

The snapshot attaches export controls on dangerous chemicals and waste to this code. These are labelled export controls rather than import controls. Ask your customs broker to confirm their relevance to the actual goods and any subsequent export, especially for recovered or waste material. A duty suspension does not resolve chemical compliance.

Confirm the commodity code using the substance identity, composition and purity evidence. The repeated table code represents different suspension eligibility descriptions, rather than separate tariff lines. See the wider amines guide for other substances in this heading.

Specify triethylamine assay and impurities

Specify triethylamine by chemical identity, intended process and agreed assay method. Set acceptance criteria for water, colour and related amine impurities, with a batch certificate of analysis. Ask the producer to distinguish the assay result from a general grade name. If you intend to claim the suspension, require evidence of purity by weight rather than assuming any quoted purity measurement meets that condition.

Before ordering, confirm UK REACH registration responsibilities, including the annual substance quantity, with HSE. HSE states that an overseas manufacturer can appoint a GB-based Only Representative to fulfil importer obligations. GB importers must also ensure correct chemical labelling and packaging before market placement. Agree an English safety data sheet and the transport packaging with the supplier.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: one tonne of triethylamine below the suspension purity threshold under 2921 19 99 90, invoiced at £4,000 free on board, with £2,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £6,500. Duty at 6% is £390. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £6,890, so it is £1,378. Import taxes total £1,768; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £390 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Identity: match the purchase order, drum labels, safety data sheet and batch certificate to triethylamine and the delivered batch.

Assay: compare batch results with the agreed purity, water, colour and impurity criteria; arrange representative testing before releasing disputed stock.

Packaging: check closures, seals, drum condition and signs of leakage without opening containers outside the agreed handling procedure.

Documents: reconcile batch references and quantities, check chemical labels and packaging, and retain the purity evidence supporting any suspension claim.

What goes wrong

A grade name can hide an assay result below the suspension threshold. Another failure is accepting a purity result without checking its measurement basis. A certificate for a different batch cannot substantiate the delivered material. Make the purchase specification, batch evidence and customs instruction consistent.

Water or related amine impurities outside the agreed specification can make material unsuitable for the buyer's process even when the overall assay is acceptable. Damaged closures and mismatched labels create separate acceptance problems. Quarantine disputed drums and obtain a documented investigation before use or resale.

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.