Urea
尿素
Urea is the largest single-nitrogen fertiliser by tonnage and an industrial reductant in DEF / AdBlue applications for diesel exhaust. The granular grade trades at a premium to prilled because of compatibility with bulk-blending plants for compound fertiliser, and the technical grade for SCR catalysts carries a tighter biuret and metals spec. Chinese supply concentrates in Shandong, Henan, and Inner Mongolia, with coal-anthracite gasification feedstock in the inland clusters and natural-gas reforming on the coastal Yangtze. The export rebate position moves with the season and the China State Taxation Administration bulletin in effect at export. US imports do not carry a Section 301 line on prilled or granular at the time of writing, though buyers should verify against the current USTR list before quoting landed cost. This cluster aggregates CAS 57-13-6 across the regulatory matrix and the cornerstone hub with grade selection, packaging economics, and the failure modes that catch first-time buyers.
Glossary
Terms you will meet on this lane
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FOB, Free On Board
Incoterm under which the seller delivers the goods on board the vessel at the named port of shipment. Risk and cost transfer to the buyer once the cargo crosses the ship's rail. The buyer arranges and pays for sea freight, marine insurance, and all destination-side costs.
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CIF, Cost, Insurance, and Freight
Incoterm under which the seller is responsible for the cost of the goods, marine insurance, and sea freight to the named destination port. Risk transfers from seller to buyer when the goods are loaded on board at the origin port, but cost responsibility extends to destination port arrival.
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DDP, Delivered Duty Paid
Incoterm under which the seller is responsible for delivering the goods to the buyer's named destination, including all transport, customs clearance, duties, taxes, and unloading at destination. The most seller-heavy Incoterm, often misused in China-export quotes.
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HS Code, Harmonized System Code
A six-digit international product classification code used by customs authorities worldwide to identify goods, assess duties, and apply trade controls. Countries extend the six-digit base with additional digits for tariff and statistical purposes (10-digit HTS in the US, 8-digit CN code in the EU, 10-digit AHECC in Australia).
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VAT Rebate, VAT Export Rebate
The Chinese government refund of value-added tax paid on inputs used to produce goods for export. Set as a percentage of the export FOB value, varying by HS code and adjusted by the State Administration of Taxation. Rebates of 13%, 9%, 6%, or 0% are typical for chemical exports. The rebate is the single largest policy lever the Chinese government uses to influence which chemicals are exported and at what scale.
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Section 301, Section 301 Tariffs
Additional tariffs imposed by the United States on Chinese-origin goods under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. The current List 1, 2, 3, and 4A tariffs add 7.5 to 25 percent on top of the standard MFN duty rate, applied at HS-code level.
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COA, Certificate of Analysis
A document issued by the manufacturer (or by an accredited third-party lab) certifying that a specific batch of a chemical or material meets the agreed specification. Lists tested parameters, results, the test methods used, and a batch number that ties back to production.
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SDS, Safety Data Sheet
The 16-section document that communicates the hazards, handling, storage, and emergency response information for a chemical product. Required at destination customs for any classified hazardous chemical and at the buyer's site for worker safety. SDS is the GHS-aligned successor to the older MSDS format.
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Packing List, Packing List
Document issued by the shipper detailing the contents, packaging, weights, and dimensions of every package in the shipment. Used by the carrier for stowage planning, by customs for entry verification, and by the buyer for receiving inspection.
Regulatory matrix
Cross-jurisdiction compliance
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Urea under REACH
European Union listing status, classifications, importer obligations.
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Urea under TSCA
United States of America listing status, classifications, importer obligations.
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Urea under IECSC
People's Republic of China listing status, classifications, importer obligations.
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Urea under AICIS
Australia listing status, classifications, importer obligations.
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Urea under K-REACH
Republic of Korea listing status, classifications, importer obligations.
Cornerstone hub
Buying chain end to end
Sourzi operator note
Biuret content is the single number that decides whether the cargo lands as fertiliser or as SCR technical-grade. Insist on the lab report at the COA stage, not at the receiving terminal.
Curated by Sean. Primary-source verified per the regulatory drafting rules in Sourzi CLAUDE.md.
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