Caprolactam under K-REACH
C6H11NO · 己内酰胺
Status: Registered. Caprolactam is registered under K-REACH and listed as a Priority Existing Chemical (PEC). Korean GHS classification matches REACH (Acute Tox. 4 oral / inhalation, Eye Irrit. 2, Skin Irrit. 2, STOT SE 3). NOT on Korea TCCA Toxic Chemicals list, NOT on Korean Drug Management Act precursor list. **Korea is structurally caprolactam-EXPORTER not importer**: Capro Corporation (Ulsan, world's largest single-site caprolactam plant ~700 kt/yr) and Kolon Industries (Gimcheon) generate substantial caprolactam supply that exports primarily to nylon-6 polymerisation customers in South-East Asia, India, and Europe. KCFTA preferential zero-duty applies for Chinese-origin imports where Korean buyers source supplemental supply.
K-REACH treats caprolactam as a routine PEC-registered substance with no TCCA overlay. **Korea is structurally caprolactam-EXPORTER** (mirror of the AS-exporter pattern in batch 12; both driven by the same Capro Corporation Ulsan ~700 kt/yr + Kolon Industries Gimcheon caprolactam capacity). Korean caprolactam exports primarily to South-East Asia, India, and Europe. Imports are supplemental for grade-specific applications. KCFTA preferential zero-duty supports Chinese-origin supplemental supply. Korean nylon-6 industrial chain is captive (Hyosung TNC, Kolon Industries, Toray Advanced Materials Korea, TK Chemical, Huvis) so caprolactam imports compete with domestic Capro / Kolon supply on price and grade. The Korea-as-exporter structural posture for both caprolactam (primary product) and AS (by-product) is structurally distinct from the Korea-as-importer posture for the other 11 substances in this dataset.
Listing and threshold
| Substance | Caprolactam (CAS 105-60-2), C6H11NO |
|---|---|
| Regime | Korea Act on the Registration and Evaluation of Chemicals (Act No. 11789, "K-REACH" amended 2018) |
| Jurisdiction | Republic of Korea |
| Status | Registered |
| Tonnage threshold | K-REACH registration required for existing chemicals manufactured or imported >1 tonne/year (verified per Korean Ministry of Environment / NIER guidance, https://chemical.chemlinked.com/chempedia/k-reach; threshold for new substances was reduced from 0.1 t/y to 1 t/y effective 1 January 2025 per K-REACH 2025 amendment) |
Classifications under this regime
- Korean GHS classification: Acute Tox. 4 oral / inhalation (H302 / H332), Eye Irrit. 2 (H319), Skin Irrit. 2 (H315), STOT SE 3 (H335)
- Signal word: WARNING. GHS pictograms: GHS07
- Korea Occupational Safety and Health Act (KOSHA) workplace exposure standard: 1 mg/m³ TWA inhalable
- NOT on Korea TCCA Toxic Chemicals list
- NOT on Korea Drug Management Act precursor list
- Korean Customs Service (KCS) HS code: 29337100
- Listed in K-REACH database under "general industrial use, low-hazard"
- NOT classified as carcinogen, mutagen, or reproductive toxicant under Korean GHS
Restrictions and conditions of use
- No TCCA Toxic Chemicals Handling Permit required
- No Chemical Accident Prevention Plan (CAPP) required
- Korea Industrial Safety and Health Act (KOSHA) MSDS in Korean required at workplace
- Korea Customs Service requires K-REACH registration number on import declaration
- No active Korean AD/CVD case on Chinese-origin caprolactam currently
- KCFTA preferential zero-duty applies to Chinese-origin caprolactam (HS 29337100); verify producer-specific eligibility (Form CO certified by Chinese authority)
Importer obligations
The Korean importer of record must hold K-REACH registration in their own name or rely on an Only Representative (OR). Korea is structurally caprolactam-exporter (driven by Capro Corporation Ulsan world's largest single-site ~700 kt/yr and Kolon Industries Gimcheon); imports are supplemental for grade-specific applications and short-term supply gaps. Korean nylon-6 polymerisation customers (Hyosung TNC, Kolon Industries, Toray Advanced Materials Korea, TK Chemical, Huvis) source primarily from domestic supply but may import Chinese supplemental supply during domestic capacity outages.
Required documents
- K-REACH registration number on Korean side (registrant or OR-appointed)
- Korean-language MSDS compliant with Korean GHS reflecting H302 / H315 / H319 / H332 / H335 classification
- Korean Customs Service (KCS) declaration with HS code 29337100
- China-Korea FTA Form CO certificate of origin for preferential treatment
- Industrial-grade specification certificate (minimum 99.9% purity)
Common compliance traps
The pitfalls that have bitten importers on this lane in the past. None of these is theoretical.
- Korean GHS hazard-statement codes use H-codes mapped to Korean translations; SDS in English-only is rejected at workplace inspection
- **Korea is structurally caprolactam-EXPORTER** (not importer) driven by Capro Corporation (Ulsan, world's largest single-site caprolactam plant ~700 kt/yr) and Kolon Industries (Gimcheon). Korean caprolactam exports primarily to South-East Asia (Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia), India, and Europe. Imports are supplemental for grade-specific applications and short-term supply gaps
- KCFTA preferential zero-duty applies but verify producer-specific eligibility (Form CO certified by Chinese authority)
- No active Korean AD/CVD case on Chinese caprolactam currently
- Korean nylon-6 industrial chain: Capro Corporation / Kolon Industries (caprolactam) → Hyosung TNC, Kolon Industries, Toray Advanced Materials Korea, TK Chemical, Huvis (nylon-6 polymerisation) → automotive engineering plastics, electrical insulation films, tyre cord (Hyosung Advanced Materials), spandex (Hyosung MyChem)
- Capro Corporation Ulsan world's largest single-site caprolactam plant generates ~2.8 Mt/yr AS by-product theoretical (sister batch 12 fact)
- The Korea-as-exporter structural posture for caprolactam is mirror of the Korea-as-exporter posture for AS (batch 12); both driven by the same Capro Corporation Ulsan + Kolon Industries Gimcheon caprolactam capacity
Where to read next
For substance-level identifiers (formula, molecular weight, SMILES, InChIKey), GHS hazard profile, IMDG transport class, and full sourcing reference for caprolactam, see the CAS 105-60-2 sourcing reference.
For grade-by-grade buying notes, freight maths, supplier-tier pricing, and a worked landed-cost example, the caprolactam cornerstone hub covers the full sourcing chain.
For the structure and history of K-REACH, see the K-REACH glossary entry.
Need cross-jurisdiction compliance support on this substance? Run it through the REACH / TSCA / IECSC / AICIS / K-REACH checker, or send us the substance and the destination and we will quote FOB China and CIF / DDP landed including the regulatory work on the destination side.
Read next
Cross-jurisdiction profile and sourcing references
Regulatory
Caprolactam under REACH
European Union listing status, classifications, importer obligations.
Regulatory
Caprolactam under TSCA
United States of America listing status, classifications, importer obligations.
Regulatory
Caprolactam under IECSC
People's Republic of China listing status, classifications, importer obligations.
Regulatory
Caprolactam under AICIS
Australia listing status, classifications, importer obligations.
Glossary
K-REACH, K-REACH
South Korean Act on the Registration and Evaluation of Chemicals, the Korean equivalent of EU REACH. Requires registration of substances manufactured in or imported into Korea above 1 tonne per year. Administered by the Ministry of Environment through NIER. Includes phase-in registration tiers, joint submission requirements, and a designated 'Only Representative' mechanism for non-Korean manufacturers.
Referenced in
5 pages across the Sourzi moat
This term shows up in 4 regulatory pages, 1 topic clusters. Sample backlinks per content type below.
Free download
Free PDF: the same MSDS verification template the Sourzi team uses to cross-reference factory documents against TSCA, REACH, AICIS, and CDR before booking.