CAS 1330-20-7 · IECSC · People's Republic of China

Xylene (mixed isomers) under IECSC

C8H10 · 二甲苯

Status: Listed. Xylene mixed isomers is on the IECSC public portion as a foundational aromatic solvent and BTX chain product. New-substance notification under MEE Decree No. 7 (2010) is NOT required. **Xylene IS on China's Catalog of Hazardous Chemicals** (Flam. Liq. 3 + Acute Tox. 4 dermal / inhalation + Skin Irrit. 2 + STOT RE 2 classification). Hazardous Chemicals Operation Permit IS required. NOT on Highly Toxic Chemicals Catalog. NOT on Easily-Made Drugs Precursor Chemicals Catalog. **0% China VAT export rebate** for xylene mixed isomers (HS 290244) reflects Beijing aromatic-petrochemical export-discouragement signal (similar to phenol batch 13 + benzene + toluene batch 20). China dominates global PX capacity (~50% PX-equivalent, ~25-30 Mt/yr PX-equivalent).

Xylene mixed isomers is comfortably IECSC-listed but IS on Catalog of Hazardous Chemicals (Hazardous Chemicals Operation Permit chain required). NOT on Highly Toxic Chemicals Catalog. NOT on Easily-Made Drugs Catalog. **0% China VAT export rebate** is structural Beijing aromatic-petrochemical export-discouragement signal (similar to phenol batch 13 + benzene + toluene batch 20). China dominates global PX capacity (~50% PX-equivalent, ~25-30 Mt/yr PX-equivalent) led by Sinopec (Yangzi + Shanghai + Maoming + Yueyang), CNPC (Karamay + Jilin + Daqing), Hengli Petrochemical Dalian, Wanhua Chemical Yantai, Zhejiang Petrochemical Zhoushan / ZRCC. Petroleum reformer + steam-cracker pyrolysis-gasoline integrated route dominates. **PX (para-xylene) → PTA (batch 9) → polyester chain integration is structural**: Chinese PX capacity drives PTA capacity drives polyester capacity drives PET bottle + polyester fibre demand. Capacity additions 2024-2026 extend Chinese PX dominance toward ~55%. Korean (LG Chem, Hanwha, Lotte, GS Caltex, S-Oil), Indian (Reliance Jamnagar), Singaporean (ExxonMobil, Shell), Saudi (Aramco / SABIC / PetroRabigh) producers compete in third-market lanes.

Listing and threshold

Substance Xylene (mixed isomers) (CAS 1330-20-7), C8H10
Regime China Inventory of Existing Chemical Substances (IECSC), administered by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE)
Jurisdiction People's Republic of China
Status Listed
Tonnage threshold No new-substance threshold applies. Hazardous Chemicals Operation Permit required regardless of volume

Classifications under this regime

  • Listed in China's Catalog of Hazardous Chemicals
  • NOT on China's Highly Toxic Chemicals Catalog
  • NOT on the Easily-Made Drugs Precursor Chemicals Catalog
  • GB/T 3407-2013 specification applies for industrial-grade mixed xylene (Chinese national standard)
  • GB/T 26821-2011 specification applies for para-xylene (PX)
  • GACC export classifications: HS 290244 (mixed xylenes), HS 290241 (o-xylene), HS 290242 (m-xylene), HS 290243 (p-xylene / PX)
  • China dominates global PX capacity (~50% PX-equivalent, ~25-30 Mt/yr PX-equivalent)
  • GB 6944-2012 dangerous-goods transport classification: Class 3 (flammable liquid), UN 1307

Restrictions and conditions of use

  • **Hazardous Chemicals Operation Permit IS required** for any party producing, storing, or distributing xylene
  • Hazardous Chemicals Road Transport Permit required for road shipment of bulk xylene
  • Customs Inspection Order may apply for export consignments
  • **0% China VAT export rebate** for xylene mixed isomers (HS 290244) reflects Beijing aromatic-petrochemical export-discouragement signal
  • GB/T 17519 Chinese-language SDS required for domestic distribution
  • MEE 2024 guidance prefers steam-cracker pyrolysis-gasoline + petroleum reformer integrated capacity additions
  • Chinese capacity additions 2024-2026 (Hengli Petrochemical Phase 4, Zhejiang Petrochemical Phase 3, Sinopec Yangzi expansion, Wanhua Chemical Yantai expansion) extend Chinese PX dominance toward ~55%

Importer obligations

For Chinese-origin xylene exported abroad, no IECSC obligation falls on the foreign importer. The export-side documentation pack focuses on the Hazardous Chemicals Operation Permit chain (producer / forwarder / port operator each hold permits), the GB/T 17519 Chinese-language SDS, and ADG 7.7 Class 3 transport documentation. Major Chinese producers (Sinopec Yangzi + Sinopec Shanghai + Sinopec Maoming + Sinopec Yueyang, CNPC Karamay + CNPC Jilin + CNPC Daqing, Hengli Petrochemical Dalian, Wanhua Chemical Yantai, Zhejiang Petrochemical Zhoushan / ZRCC) compete with Korean (LG Chem Yeosu, Hanwha Solutions Yeosu, Lotte Chemical Yeosu, GS Caltex Yeosu, S-Oil Onsan), Indian (Reliance Jamnagar), Singaporean (ExxonMobil, Shell), Saudi (Aramco / SABIC / PetroRabigh) producers. The dominant economic story for Chinese-origin xylene is the **PX (para-xylene) → PTA (batch 9) → polyester chain integration**.

Required documents

  • GACC export declaration with HS code 290244 (mixed xylenes) or 290241 / 290242 / 290243 (specific isomers)
  • Industrial-grade certificate per GB/T 3407-2013 (mixed xylene) or GB/T 26821-2011 (PX)
  • GHS-compliant SDS in Simplified Chinese per GB/T 17519-2013 (effective 31 January 2014, references UN GHS 4th revised edition; verify against the current version of GB/T 17519 at https://www.codeofchina.com/standard/GBT17519-2013.html)
  • Hazardous Chemicals Operation Permit chain documentation (producer / forwarder / port operator)
  • Hazardous Chemicals Road Transport Permit (where road-shipped from inland producers)
  • GB 6944-2012 Class 3 dangerous-goods transport documentation

Common compliance traps

The pitfalls that have bitten importers on this lane in the past. None of these is theoretical.

  • Hazardous Chemicals Operation Permit chain is the dominant operational complexity; permit lapses at any node trigger holds
  • **0% China VAT export rebate** is structural Beijing aromatic-petrochemical export-discouragement signal (similar to phenol batch 13 + benzene + toluene batch 20)
  • NOT on Highly Toxic Chemicals Catalog (lighter than phenol batch 13 + formaldehyde batch 18)
  • NOT on Easily-Made Drugs Catalog
  • Major Chinese producers concentrated at coastal Sinopec + CNPC + Hengli + Wanhua + Zhejiang Petrochemical mega-complexes
  • Petroleum reformer + steam-cracker pyrolysis-gasoline integrated route dominates Chinese capacity
  • BTX chain economics: Chinese reformer + steam-cracker capacity additions drive coupled benzene + toluene + xylene supply growth
  • **PX (para-xylene) → PTA → polyester chain integration is structural**: Chinese PX capacity drives PTA capacity (batch 9) drives polyester capacity drives PET bottle + polyester fibre demand
  • Capacity additions 2024-2026 (Hengli Phase 4 +5 Mt/yr PX, Zhejiang Petrochemical Phase 3, Wanhua Chemical Yantai Phase 2) extend Chinese PX dominance toward ~55%

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 IECSC, see the IECSC 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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