Chemical imports from China

China has long held a leading position in the production and export of chemical products, providing a wide range of essential materials to industries worldwide. The growing demand for Chinese chemical products is mainly due to their good quality and competitive prices. As the world's largest chemical market, China offers significant growth opportunities for companies wishing to expand their operations in this industry. The rapid growth and huge size of the Chinese market open up a wide range of prospects for importers of chemical products. Thanks to China's status as a global manufacturing hub, they have a competitive advantage in terms of both production scaling and cost efficiency. By tapping into this market, companies can access a variety of top-quality chemical products at competitive prices, allowing them to meet customer demands and gain a competitive edge. 

Customs duty on chemical products from China

China plays an important role in chemical imports due to its competitive prices. However, it is worth noting that a duty has been introduced on some chemical products from China in recent years, which may affect the cost of imports. The duty on chemical products from China aims to protect the domestic chemical industry and promote domestic production. Below are examples of duties on some chemical products: 

• Cements, mortars, concretes (3816 00 00) - 2.7%
• Lubricating oil additives - salts of dinonylnaphthalenesulfonic acid, in the form of a solution in mineral oils (3811 21 00 10) - 5.3%
• Prepared binders for foundry moulds or cores based on synthetic resins (3824 10 00 10) - 6.5%
• Rosin and resin acids, fresh (3806 10 00 10) - 5%
• Casein glues (3501 90 10 00) - 8.3%
• Charges for fire extinguishers (3813 00 00 90) - 6.5%
• Residual lyes from the manufacture of wood pulp - sodium lignosulphonate (3804 00 00 10) - 5%
• Solid fertilisers with an ammonium nitrate content exceeding 80% by weight (3102 29 00 10) - 6.5%
• Fertilisers: superphosphates (3103 11 00 00) - 4.8%
• Diagnostic reagents (3822 00 00 90) - 0%
• Tall oil (3803 00 90 00) - 4.1%
• Carbon pastes for electrodes (3801 30 00 00) - 5.3%
• Polymers of 4-methylpent-1-ene (3902 90 90 92) - 6.5%
• Natural polymers: sodium alginate (3913 10 00 10) - 5%
• Hydraulic brake fluids based on phosphate ester (3819 00 00 20) - 6.5%
• Wood tar (3807 00 10 00) - 2.1%
• Artificial graphite (3801 10 00 10) - 3.6%
• Herbicides based on phenoxy-phytohormones (3808 93 11 00) - 6%
• Fungicides based on copper compounds (3808 92 20 00) - 4.6%
• Insecticides based on peritroids (3808 91 10 90) - 6%
• Balsamic turpentine (3805 10 10 00) - 4%
• Activated carbon (3802 10 00 90) - 3.2%

Requirements for chemical products 

Chemical product requirements are an important aspect of importing from China. Companies importing chemical products from China must comply with a variety of chemical safety and health and environmental standards and regulations. Organisations such as the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) implement regulations such as. REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals), which aim to ensure the proper management of chemicals on the European market. In addition, directives such as CLP (Classification, Labelling and Packaging) set out requirements for the classification, labelling and packaging of chemicals.

Transport of chemical products from China

An important step in importing chemical products from China is their safe transportation. In the case of chemical products, proper packaging is important to ensure protection against leakage or damage during transport. Thus, ensuring that chemical products are transported from China in accordance with safety regulations and standards is essential. For transport from China, there are three options: transport marine, rail i aviation. Hazardous chemical products will in most cases have to be transported by sea as it has the fewest restrictions on hazardous cargo. Before transporting chemicals, it is necessary to ask the manufacturer for an SDS (safety data sheet) and to consult with the shipping company on what form of transport is possible for the cargo. 

Chemicals fair in China

At the China Chemicals Fair, entrepreneurs and chemical industry professionals have the opportunity to make business contacts and learn about the latest trends and innovations in the sector. The fair brings together leading manufacturers, suppliers and distributors of chemical products in one place, enabling participants to gain knowledge about a diverse range of products and the opportunity to compare quality, prices and business terms. Participation in this trade fair can help to increase the potential for chemical imports from China, create valuable business partnerships and expand the global network of contacts in the chemical industry.

Below is a list of chemical industry trade fairs in China: 

• Analytica China 2024
• China (Shanghai) International Chemical Technology & Equipment Fair 2024
• ACHEMA 2024
• China International Fertilizer Show (FSHOW)
• China (Beijing) International Coal Chemical Industry Exhibition (CICC)
• Canton Fair - China Export And Import Fair
• China International Chemical Industry Fair (ICIF)
• ICIE - International (Guangzhou) Coatings Industry Expo 2024
• IESD China | China International Exhibition on Surfactant & Detergent 2024
• CAC China 2025
• SpeChem China 2024