Sourcing Trimethylolpropane from China

Trimethylolpropane duty and classification

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 6 November 2026, heading 2905 covers acyclic alcohols and their specified derivatives. Trimethylolpropane falls within other polyhydric alcohols under 2905 49 00 85, carrying 4% duty for goods from China. The supplied facts show no anti-dumping or countervailing duty for this line.

The line lists a 0.00 % suspension, but its footnote names erythritol and ethylidynetrimethanol rather than trimethylolpropane. Do not apply it merely because the commodity code matches. The UK Trade Tariff also attaches an export waste control; ask your customs broker to confirm its relevance, especially if the material is described as waste or recovered stock.

Confirm the substance identity, composition and commodity code before shipment. The table contains the applicable trimethylolpropane line only. For related alcohols within the wider heading, see the pentaerythritol guide.

Specify trimethylolpropane by batch

Write the full chemical identity into the order rather than relying on a supplier abbreviation. Agree assay, water content, colour, acidity, physical form and acceptable impurities, with a test method for each acceptance criterion. Ask for a batch certificate of analysis and retain an approved sample for comparison.

Agree sealed packaging, batch identification and a sampling procedure. Check your UK REACH registration responsibilities before ordering. For Great Britain supply, confirm the applicable chemical classification requirements with HSE; substances and mixtures must be correctly labelled and packaged before being placed on the market.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative shipment of 15 tonnes of trimethylolpropane under 2905 49 00 85, invoiced at £21,000 free on board, with £2,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £23,500. Duty at 4% is £940. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £24,440, so it is £4,888. Import taxes total £5,828; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £940 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Identity: match the order, batch certificate, safety data sheet and package description.

Analysis: compare assay, moisture, colour and acidity results with the agreed specification; arrange independent testing where needed.

Packaging: check seals, damaged bags, staining, foreign material and the condition of any liner.

Traceability: match package batch references to the certificate and retain a representative arrival sample.

What goes wrong

A generic polyol description can conceal a different substance or grade. A certificate without a matching batch reference does not establish what was shipped. Check moisture and lumping on arrival rather than accepting appearance alone, and test a sample in the intended formulation before releasing the batch.

A suspension shown against a broad commodity line can also be mistaken for relief on every substance within it. Cost trimethylolpropane at 4% on the supplied facts and have the broker check any proposed relief against the named substance.

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.