1,3-Butadiene under K-REACH
C4H6 · 1,3-丁二烯
Status: Registered. 1,3-Butadiene is registered under K-REACH and listed as a Priority Existing Chemical (PEC). Korean GHS classification matches REACH (Carc 1A + Muta 1B + Flam. Gas 1A + Press. Gas). **1,3-Butadiene IS on Korea TCCA Toxic Chemicals list**: TCCA Toxic Chemicals Handling Permit at destination facility required (parallel layer to K-REACH chemical registration; mirror of phenol batch 13 + sulfuric acid batch 2 + formaldehyde batch 18 + benzene batch 22 + aniline batch 26 patterns). NOT on Korean Drug Management Act precursor list. NO active Korean AD/CVD case on Chinese-origin 1,3-butadiene. **Korea has substantial domestic 1,3-butadiene production and is structurally net-EXPORTER**: Kumho Petrochemical Yeosu (a leading single-company SBR plus BR producer with integrated upstream butadiene capacity; verify the most recent SBR plus BR nameplate against the Kumho Petrochemical investor site before quoting a specific Mt/yr figure), LG Chem Yeosu, Lotte Chemical Yeosu, S-Oil Onsan. Korean butadiene capacity is among world's largest (~2-2.5 Mt/yr). KCFTA preferential zero-duty applies for Chinese-origin imports.
K-REACH treats 1,3-butadiene as a routine PEC-registered substance but **TCCA Toxic Chemicals Handling Permit at destination facility is the dominant practitioner overhead** (parallel layer with K-REACH; mirror of phenol batch 13 + sulfuric acid batch 2 + formaldehyde batch 18 + benzene batch 22 + aniline batch 26 patterns). **Korea is structurally net-EXPORTER of 1,3-butadiene**: Kumho Petrochemical Yeosu (a leading single-company SBR plus BR producer with integrated upstream butadiene capacity; verify the most recent SBR plus BR nameplate against the Kumho Petrochemical investor site before quoting a specific Mt/yr figure), LG Chem Yeosu, Lotte Chemical Yeosu, S-Oil Onsan. Korean butadiene capacity is among world's largest (~2-2.5 Mt/yr). NO active Korean AD/CVD case. KCFTA preferential zero-duty supports Chinese-origin supplemental supply. Korean downstream consumers: Kumho Petrochemical (SBR + BR + NBR + SBS chain at Yeosu), LG Chem (ABS + SBR chain), Lotte Chemical (SBR + BR), Hyosung Chemicals (NBR chain). **1,3-Butadiene distinguishing pattern across all 5 regimes**: Carc 1A + Muta 1B + Press. Gas + IARC Group 1 carcinogen since 2008 + steam-cracker C4 fraction extraction (~95% globally) + SBR / BR / ABS / NBR rubber chain primary feedstock + heaviest workplace overhead alongside benzene batch 22 + formaldehyde batch 18 + Korean structural net-exporter.
Listing and threshold
| Substance | 1,3-Butadiene (CAS 106-99-0), C4H6 |
|---|---|
| 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: Flam. Gas 1A (H220), Press. Gas, Carc. 1A (H350), Muta. 1B (H340)
- Signal word: DANGER. GHS pictograms: GHS02 + GHS04 + GHS08
- Korea Occupational Safety and Health Act (KOSHA) workplace exposure standard: 1 ppm 8-hr TWA
- **Listed in Korea TCCA Toxic Chemicals list**
- NOT on Korean Drug Management Act precursor list
- Korean Customs Service (KCS) HS code: 290124
- Listed in K-REACH database under "general industrial use, hazardous, toxic chemical, carcinogen Cat 1A, mutagen Cat 1B, flammable gas, pressurised gas"
- **IARC: Group 1 (carcinogenic to humans)**
Restrictions and conditions of use
- **TCCA Toxic Chemicals Handling Permit at destination facility required** (parallel layer to K-REACH chemical registration; mirror of phenol batch 13 + sulfuric acid batch 2 + formaldehyde batch 18 + benzene batch 22 + aniline batch 26 patterns)
- Chemical Accident Prevention Plan (CAPP) may be required at handling facilities above declared thresholds
- 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 1,3-butadiene currently
- KCFTA preferential zero-duty applies to Chinese-origin 1,3-butadiene (HS 290124); 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). **TCCA Toxic Chemicals Handling Permit at destination facility is the dominant practitioner-facing overhead** (parallel layer to K-REACH chemical registration; mirror of phenol batch 13 + sulfuric acid batch 2 + formaldehyde batch 18 + benzene batch 22 + aniline batch 26 patterns). **Korea has substantial domestic 1,3-butadiene production and is structurally net-EXPORTER** (Kumho Petrochemical Yeosu world's largest single-company SBR + BR producer ~1 Mt/yr SBR + BR; integrated upstream butadiene capacity, LG Chem Yeosu, Lotte Chemical Yeosu, S-Oil Onsan). Korean butadiene capacity is among world's largest (~2-2.5 Mt/yr). Korean downstream consumers: Kumho Petrochemical (SBR + BR + NBR + SBS chain at Yeosu), LG Chem (ABS + SBR chain via styrene + butadiene), Lotte Chemical (SBR + BR chain), Hyosung Chemicals (NBR chain). The Korean Yeosu SBR + BR + NBR + SBS chain is structurally distinct from the Chinese chain.
Required documents
- K-REACH registration number on Korean side (registrant or OR-appointed)
- Korean-language MSDS compliant with Korean GHS reflecting H220 / H340 / H350 classification
- Korean Customs Service (KCS) declaration with HS code 290124
- **TCCA Toxic Chemicals Handling Permit** at destination facility
- China-Korea FTA Form CO certificate of origin for preferential treatment
- Industrial-grade specification certificate (minimum 99.5% purity, TBC inhibitor specification)
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
- **TCCA Toxic Chemicals Handling Permit at destination facility is the dominant practitioner overhead** (parallel layer with K-REACH; mirror of phenol batch 13 + sulfuric acid batch 2 + formaldehyde batch 18 + benzene batch 22 + aniline batch 26 patterns)
- **Korea is structurally net-EXPORTER of 1,3-butadiene**: Kumho Petrochemical Yeosu world's largest single-company SBR + BR producer ~1 Mt/yr SBR + BR (integrated upstream butadiene capacity), LG Chem Yeosu, Lotte Chemical Yeosu, S-Oil Onsan. Korean butadiene capacity is among world's largest (~2-2.5 Mt/yr); structural net-exporter to ASEAN, India, Latin America
- KCFTA preferential zero-duty applies; verify producer-specific eligibility
- No active Korean AD/CVD case on Chinese 1,3-butadiene currently
- Korean Yeosu SBR + BR + NBR + SBS chain is the dominant integrated chain in Asia alongside Chinese capacity
- Korean downstream consumers: Kumho Petrochemical (SBR + BR + NBR + SBS chain at Yeosu), LG Chem (ABS + SBR chain), Lotte Chemical (SBR + BR), Hyosung Chemicals (NBR chain)
Where to read next
For substance-level identifiers (formula, molecular weight, SMILES, InChIKey), GHS hazard profile, IMDG transport class, and full sourcing reference for 1,3-butadiene, see the CAS 106-99-0 sourcing reference.
For grade-by-grade buying notes, freight maths, supplier-tier pricing, and a worked landed-cost example, the 1,3-butadiene 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
1,3-Butadiene under REACH
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1,3-Butadiene under TSCA
United States of America listing status, classifications, importer obligations.
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1,3-Butadiene under IECSC
People's Republic of China listing status, classifications, importer obligations.
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1,3-Butadiene 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.