CAS 124-04-9 · K-REACH · Republic of Korea

Adipic acid (hexanedioic acid) under K-REACH

C6H10O4 · 己二酸

Status: Registered. Adipic acid is registered under K-REACH and listed as a Priority Existing Chemical (PEC). Korean GHS classification matches REACH (Skin Irrit. 2 plus Eye Irrit. 2 plus STOT SE 3). NOT on Korea TCCA Toxic Chemicals list. NOT on Korean Drug Management Act precursor list. NO active Korean AD/CVD case on Chinese-origin adipic acid (verify against the Korea Trade Commission portal before invoicing). Korea has limited domestic adipic-acid production; structurally net-importer for downstream nylon 6,6 plus polyurethane industries. KCFTA preferential zero-duty applies for Chinese-origin imports.

K-REACH treats adipic acid as a routine PEC-registered substance with no TCCA overlay. Korea has limited domestic adipic-acid production; structurally net-importer. NO active Korean AD/CVD case. KCFTA preferential zero-duty supports Chinese-origin supplemental supply. **Adipic acid distinguishing pattern across all 5 regimes**: nylon 6,6 primary downstream chain (~70 percent of demand combined with HMDA hexamethylenediamine; sister to caprolactam batch 14 nylon 6 chain) + cyclohexane oxidation followed by nitric acid batch 40 oxidation production route (~95 percent globally) + N2O greenhouse-gas emissions from production are subject to EU ETS coverage plus US EPA GHG Reporting Program plus Chinese MEE policy + light occupational hazard (Skin Irrit. 2 plus Eye Irrit. 2 plus STOT SE 3 only) + dual food-additive E 355 plus polyurethane plasticiser plus powder-coating cross-uses + Pingmei Shenma plus Liaoning Hualu plus Hongbai Group plus Hualu-Hengsheng plus Hubei Yihua Chinese capacity dominance + 13% China VAT export rebate.

Listing and threshold

Substance Adipic acid (hexanedioic acid) (CAS 124-04-9), C6H10O4
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: Skin Irrit. 2 (H315), Eye Irrit. 2 (H319), STOT SE 3 (H335)
  • Signal word: WARNING. GHS pictograms: GHS07
  • Korea Occupational Safety and Health Act (KOSHA) workplace exposure standard: not specifically established
  • NOT on Korea TCCA Toxic Chemicals list
  • NOT on Korean Drug Management Act precursor list
  • Korean Customs Service (KCS) HS code: 291712
  • IARC: not classified
  • Korean Food Standards Codex Article 4 permits adipic acid as food additive E 355

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 adipic acid currently
  • KCFTA preferential zero-duty applies to Chinese-origin adipic acid (HS 291712)

Importer obligations

The Korean importer of record must hold K-REACH registration in their own name or rely on an Only Representative (OR). For adipic acid this is a routine PEC registration with no TCCA overlay. Korea has limited domestic adipic-acid production; structurally net-importer. Korean downstream consumers: Hyosung TNC (nylon 6,6 chain), Kolon Industries, Toray Advanced Materials Korea, plus Korean automotive plus polyurethane industries.

Required documents

  • K-REACH registration number on Korean side (registrant or OR-appointed)
  • Korean-language MSDS compliant with Korean GHS reflecting H315 / H319 / H335 classification
  • Korean Customs Service (KCS) declaration with HS code 291712
  • China-Korea FTA Form CO certificate of origin for preferential treatment
  • Industrial-grade or food-grade specification certificate

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
  • Korea has limited domestic adipic-acid production; structurally net-importer
  • KCFTA preferential zero-duty applies; verify producer-specific eligibility
  • NO active Korean AD/CVD case on Chinese adipic acid currently
  • NOT on TCCA Toxic Chemicals list
  • Korean downstream consumers: Hyosung TNC (nylon 6,6 chain), Kolon Industries, Toray Advanced Materials Korea, plus Korean automotive plus polyurethane industries

Where to read next

For substance-level identifiers (formula, molecular weight, SMILES, InChIKey), GHS hazard profile, IMDG transport class, and full sourcing reference for adipic acid (hexanedioic acid), see the CAS 124-04-9 sourcing reference.

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

Referenced in

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