CAS 1330-20-7 · K-REACH · Republic of Korea

Xylene (mixed isomers) under K-REACH

C8H10 · 二甲苯

Status: Registered. Xylene mixed isomers is registered under K-REACH and listed as a Priority Existing Chemical (PEC). Korean GHS classification matches REACH (Flam. Liq. 3 + Acute Tox. 4 dermal / inhalation + Skin Irrit. 2 + STOT RE 2). NOT on Korea TCCA Toxic Chemicals list. NOT on Korean Drug Management Act precursor list. NO active Korean AD/CVD case on Chinese-origin xylene. **Korea has substantial domestic xylene production and is structurally net-EXPORTER of PX**: LG Chem Yeosu, Hanwha Solutions Yeosu, Lotte Chemical Yeosu, GS Caltex Yeosu, S-Oil Onsan have substantial PX capacity. Korean PX capacity is among world's largest (~10-12 Mt/yr PX) and is structurally net-exporter to US (Reliance + Korean PX competition for US PTA chain), India, Latin America, ASEAN. KCFTA preferential zero-duty applies for Chinese-origin imports.

K-REACH treats xylene as a routine PEC-registered substance with no TCCA overlay (lighter than phenol batch 13 + formaldehyde batch 18). **Korea is structurally net-EXPORTER of PX**: Korean PX capacity is among world's largest (~10-12 Mt/yr PX) at Yeosu (LG Chem, Hanwha Solutions, Lotte Chemical, GS Caltex) and Onsan (S-Oil); structural net-exporter to US, India, Latin America, ASEAN. NO active Korean AD/CVD case. KCFTA preferential zero-duty supports Chinese-origin supplemental supply. Korean downstream consumers: Hyosung Chemicals, LG Chem, Lotte Chemical, Samsung TotalEnergies Petrochemicals, Hanwha TotalEnergies Petrochemicals (all running PTA / polyester chain). The Korean PX → PTA → polyester chain at Yeosu is the dominant integrated chain in Asia. **Xylene distinguishing pattern across all 5 regimes**: BTX trio companion (lighter hazard than toluene batch 20, no Repr 2 + no Annex XVII Restriction 48 + no Cal Prop 65) + PX (~75% of demand) feeding PTA → polyester chain (batch 9) + naphtha reformer co-production with toluene + Korea-as-net-exporter PX structural posture.

Listing and threshold

Substance Xylene (mixed isomers) (CAS 1330-20-7), C8H10
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. Liq. 3 (H226), Acute Tox. 4 dermal (H312), Acute Tox. 4 inhalation (H332), Skin Irrit. 2 (H315), STOT RE 2 (H373)
  • Signal word: WARNING. GHS pictograms: GHS02 + GHS07 + GHS08
  • Korea Occupational Safety and Health Act (KOSHA) workplace exposure standard: 100 ppm 8-hr TWA, 150 ppm STEL
  • NOT on Korea TCCA Toxic Chemicals list
  • NOT on Korean Drug Management Act precursor list
  • Korean Customs Service (KCS) HS codes: 290244 (mixed xylenes), 290241 (o-xylene), 290242 (m-xylene), 290243 (p-xylene / PX)
  • Listed in K-REACH database under "general industrial use, hazardous, target organ"
  • IARC: nitric acid itself is not separately classified; occupational exposure to strong-inorganic-acid mists containing sulfuric acid was classified IARC Group 1 (laryngeal cancer) in Monograph Volume 54 (1992) (verify the current classification and Monograph volume against https://monographs.iarc.who.int/list-of-classifications before relying on the inorganic-acid-mist read-across for nitric acid)

Restrictions and conditions of use

  • No TCCA Toxic Chemicals Handling Permit required
  • No Chemical Accident Prevention Plan (CAPP) required
  • No Korean Drug Management Act precursor obligations
  • 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 xylene currently
  • KCFTA preferential zero-duty applies to Chinese-origin xylene; 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). For xylene this is a routine PEC registration with no TCCA overlay. **Korea has substantial domestic xylene production and is structurally net-EXPORTER of PX** (LG Chem Yeosu, Hanwha Solutions Yeosu, Lotte Chemical Yeosu, GS Caltex Yeosu, S-Oil Onsan); Korean PX capacity is among world's largest (~10-12 Mt/yr PX). Imports from China are supplemental for grade-specific applications. Korean downstream consumers: Hyosung Chemicals (PTA chain), LG Chem (PTA chain via PX), Lotte Chemical (PTA chain), Samsung TotalEnergies Petrochemicals (PTA chain), Hanwha TotalEnergies Petrochemicals (PTA chain). The Korean PX → PTA → polyester chain at Yeosu is the dominant integrated chain in Asia.

Required documents

  • K-REACH registration number on Korean side (registrant or OR-appointed)
  • Korean-language MSDS compliant with Korean GHS reflecting H226 / H312 / H315 / H332 / H373 classification
  • Korean Customs Service (KCS) declaration with HS code 290244 / 290241 / 290242 / 290243
  • China-Korea FTA Form CO certificate of origin for preferential treatment
  • Industrial-grade specification certificate (minimum 99.5% purity for solvent-grade; PX-grade higher 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 net-EXPORTER of PX**: Korean PX capacity is among world's largest (~10-12 Mt/yr PX) at Yeosu (LG Chem, Hanwha Solutions, Lotte Chemical, GS Caltex) and Onsan (S-Oil); structural net-exporter to US, India, Latin America, ASEAN
  • KCFTA preferential zero-duty applies but verify producer-specific eligibility
  • NO active Korean AD/CVD case on Chinese xylene currently
  • NOT on TCCA Toxic Chemicals list
  • NOT on Korean Drug Management Act precursor list
  • Korean PX → PTA → polyester chain at Yeosu is the dominant integrated chain in Asia
  • Korean downstream consumers: Hyosung Chemicals, LG Chem, Lotte Chemical, Samsung TotalEnergies Petrochemicals, Hanwha TotalEnergies Petrochemicals (all running PTA / polyester chain)
  • Imports from China supplemental for grade-specific applications; Chinese PX capacity additions (Hengli Phase 4, Zhejiang Petrochemical Phase 3) compete with Korean exports in third-market lanes

Where to read next

For substance-level identifiers (formula, molecular weight, SMILES, InChIKey), GHS hazard profile, IMDG transport class, and full sourcing reference for xylene (mixed isomers), see the CAS 1330-20-7 sourcing reference.

For grade-by-grade buying notes, freight maths, supplier-tier pricing, and a worked landed-cost example, the xylene (mixed isomers) 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.

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Cross-jurisdiction profile and sourcing references

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