CAS 100-42-5 · K-REACH · Republic of Korea

Styrene (vinylbenzene) under K-REACH

C8H8 · 苯乙烯

Status: Registered. Styrene is registered under K-REACH and listed as a Priority Existing Chemical (PEC). Korean GHS classification matches REACH (Repr 2 + STOT RE 1 + Acute Tox. 4 inhalation + Skin Irrit. 2 + Eye Irrit. 2 + Flam. Liq. 3). NOT on Korea TCCA Toxic Chemicals list (lighter than benzene batch 22 + phenol batch 13 + formaldehyde batch 18). NOT on Korean Drug Management Act precursor list. NO active Korean AD/CVD case on Chinese-origin styrene. **Korea has substantial domestic styrene production and is structurally net-EXPORTER of styrene**: LG Chem Yeosu, Lotte Chemical Yeosu, Hanwha Solutions Yeosu, Kumho Petrochemical Yeosu have substantial integrated benzene + ethylbenzene + styrene capacity. Korean styrene capacity is among world's largest (~7-8 Mt/yr). Korean BTX → ethylbenzene → styrene → polystyrene + ABS + SBR / SBS chain at Yeosu is the dominant integrated chain in Asia alongside Chinese capacity.

K-REACH treats styrene as a routine PEC-registered substance with no TCCA overlay (lighter than benzene batch 22 + phenol batch 13 + formaldehyde batch 18). **Korea has substantial domestic styrene production and is structurally net-EXPORTER**: Korean styrene capacity is among world's largest (~7-8 Mt/yr) at Yeosu (LG Chem, Lotte Chemical, Hanwha Solutions, Kumho Petrochemical); structural net-exporter to ASEAN, India, Latin America. NO active Korean AD/CVD case. KCFTA preferential zero-duty supports Chinese-origin supplemental supply. Korean downstream consumers: LG Chem (PS + ABS + SAN chain), Lotte Chemical (PS + ABS), Kumho Petrochemical (SBR + SBS via styrene-butadiene), Hyosung Chemicals (ABS). The Korean Yeosu styrene → polystyrene + ABS + SBR / SBS chain is the dominant integrated chain in Asia alongside Chinese capacity. **Styrene distinguishing pattern across all 5 regimes**: ethylbenzene → styrene → polystyrene + ABS chain (~85% combined demand) + benzene (batch 22) downstream; IARC Group 2A since 2018 + Repr 2 + STOT RE 1 (hearing organ) + EU active AD (Reg 2024/2003 provisional July 2024) + 0% China VAT rebate + Korean structural net-exporter.

Listing and threshold

Substance Styrene (vinylbenzene) (CAS 100-42-5), C8H8
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), Repr. 2 (H361d), STOT RE 1 (H372), Acute Tox. 4 inhalation (H332), Skin Irrit. 2 (H315), Eye Irrit. 2 (H319)
  • Signal word: DANGER. GHS pictograms: GHS02 + GHS07 + GHS08
  • Korea Occupational Safety and Health Act (KOSHA) workplace exposure standard: 20 ppm 8-hr TWA, 40 ppm STEL
  • NOT on Korea TCCA Toxic Chemicals list
  • NOT on Korean Drug Management Act precursor list
  • Korean Customs Service (KCS) HS code: 290250
  • Listed in K-REACH database under "general industrial use, hazardous, reproductive toxicant, target organ"
  • **IARC: Group 2A (probably carcinogenic to humans)**

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 styrene currently
  • KCFTA preferential zero-duty applies to Chinese-origin styrene (HS 290250)
  • Korean Industrial Safety and Health Act female-of-child-bearing-age workplace protection planning for Repr 2 substances

Importer obligations

The Korean importer of record must hold K-REACH registration in their own name or rely on an Only Representative (OR). For styrene this is a routine PEC registration with no TCCA overlay. **Korea has substantial domestic styrene production and is structurally net-EXPORTER** (LG Chem Yeosu, Lotte Chemical Yeosu, Hanwha Solutions Yeosu, Kumho Petrochemical Yeosu); Korean styrene capacity is among world's largest (~7-8 Mt/yr). Imports from China are supplemental for grade-specific applications. Korean downstream consumers: LG Chem (PS + ABS + SAN chain), Lotte Chemical (PS + ABS chain), Kumho Petrochemical (SBR + SBS chain via styrene-butadiene), Hyosung Chemicals (ABS chain), Samsung TotalEnergies Petrochemicals. The Korean Yeosu styrene → polystyrene + ABS + SBR / 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 H226 / H315 / H319 / H332 / H361d / H372 classification
  • Korean Customs Service (KCS) declaration with HS code 290250
  • China-Korea FTA Form CO certificate of origin for preferential treatment
  • Industrial-grade specification certificate (minimum 99.7% 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
  • **Korea is structurally net-EXPORTER of styrene**: Korean styrene capacity is among world's largest (~7-8 Mt/yr) at Yeosu (LG Chem, Lotte Chemical, Hanwha Solutions, Kumho Petrochemical); 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 styrene currently
  • NOT on TCCA Toxic Chemicals list
  • NOT on Korean Drug Management Act precursor list
  • Korean Yeosu styrene → polystyrene + ABS + SBR / SBS chain is the dominant integrated chain in Asia alongside Chinese capacity
  • Korean downstream consumers: LG Chem (PS + ABS + SAN chain), Lotte Chemical (PS + ABS), Kumho Petrochemical (SBR + SBS via styrene-butadiene), Hyosung Chemicals (ABS), Samsung TotalEnergies Petrochemicals
  • Female-of-child-bearing-age workplace protection planning for Repr 2 substances under Korean Industrial Safety and Health Act

Where to read next

For substance-level identifiers (formula, molecular weight, SMILES, InChIKey), GHS hazard profile, IMDG transport class, and full sourcing reference for styrene (vinylbenzene), see the CAS 100-42-5 sourcing reference.

For grade-by-grade buying notes, freight maths, supplier-tier pricing, and a worked landed-cost example, the styrene (vinylbenzene) 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

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