Sourcing two-part epoxy adhesives from China
Ordinary two-part epoxy adhesives from China carry 6% UK duty across the relevant retail and other polymer-based adhesive lines. GB chemical classification, labelling and packaging rules apply when supplying the Great Britain market. Check both components and their safety data sheets. Cambridge China Bridge sources two-part epoxy adhesives.
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Ordinary epoxy adhesives: 6% duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 3506 covers prepared adhesives and retail adhesive products with a net weight not exceeding 1 kg. Ordinary retail epoxy kits and other polymer-based epoxy adhesives carry 6% duty from China. The supplied tariff facts list no anti-dumping or countervailing duty. Repeated codes in the table distinguish packaging formats.
The other polymer-based adhesive line lists a 0% suspension restricted to named specialist materials, with a further exclusion for mixtures, preparations or products containing them. Do not assume an ordinary epoxy kit qualifies. The tariff attaches waste import and export controls, and a fluorinated greenhouse gas import control to 3506 91 90 99. Ask your customs broker to confirm the applicable requirements for the formulation and shipment; waste shipment controls apply only to waste.
Provide the composition of both components, their presentation together and the retail net weight when confirming the commodity code. Separately presented resin or hardener needs its own classification assessment. See the wider glues and adhesives guide for other products within this heading.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail epoxy repair kits, net weight not exceeding 1 kg | 3506 10 00 00 | 6% | None |
| Other polymer-based epoxy adhesives in industrial cartridges | 3506 91 90 99 | 6% | None |
Specify the resin, hardener and cured bond
Specify the substrates, surface preparation, joint gap, mixing ratio by mass or volume, working time, handling strength and full cure conditions. Agree cured colour, viscosity, resistance to water and the intended service temperature. Ask for tests on your actual materials, including painted or oily surfaces where these reflect the intended use.
Choose matched resin and hardener packs, compatible dispensing equipment and a mixing nozzle suited to the formulation. Agree storage conditions and remaining shelf life on arrival. Confirm with HSE the English hazard-label and safety-data-sheet requirements for supplying the actual resin and hardener to business customers. Request component-specific documents. UK REACH registration applies to substances within mixtures, so assess the constituent substances rather than treating the kit as a single substance.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative batch of retail epoxy repair kits under 3506 10 00 00, invoiced at £18,000 free on board, with £1,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £19,500. Duty at 6% is £1,170. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £20,670, so it is £4,134. Import taxes total £5,304; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,170 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Component matching: check resin and hardener identities, batch references, fill quantities and the stated mixing ratio against the approved sample.
Dispensing: check seals, caps, cartridge fit and nozzle attachment; dispense a sample and inspect whether both components flow consistently.
Cure and bond: mix according to the instructions, record the test conditions and compare cure, tackiness and bond failure with the agreed acceptance sample.
Documents and stock: check English hazard labels and component safety data sheets against the supplied formulation; check production dates, storage instructions, leakage and remaining shelf life.
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What goes wrong
A mismatched hardener, uneven dispensing or confusion between mass and volume ratios can leave a soft or patchy bond. A successful demonstration on clean metal does not establish performance on your painted plastic or porous material. Approve the complete pack, dispenser and instructions together, then repeat the agreed bond test on arrival.
Resin and hardener may arrive with different remaining shelf lives, damaged seals or documents describing an earlier formulation. Hold affected stock while the supplier resolves the discrepancy. Agree how formulation changes and replacement components will be approved before production.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on two-part epoxy adhesives from China?
Ordinary retail epoxy kits and other polymer-based epoxy adhesives carry 6% duty. The supplied tariff facts list no anti-dumping or countervailing duty; a named specialist suspension is not a general epoxy exemption.
Do imported epoxy adhesives need English hazard labels?
Check the resin and hardener documents against the actual formulation before approving artwork.
Why does my two-part epoxy stay sticky?
Check component matching, the mixing ratio, mixing thoroughness and cure conditions. Confirm whether the instructions specify a ratio by mass or by volume, and compare with the approved sample.
Can I replace the supplied epoxy hardener?
Approve a replacement through cure and bond tests with the resin, dispenser and intended substrates. Ask for updated component documents and mixing instructions before accepting the change.