CAS 1330-20-7 · REACH · European Union

Xylene (mixed isomers) under REACH

C8H10 · 二甲苯

Status: Registered. Xylene mixed isomers (CAS 1330-20-7) is fully registered under REACH at the highest tonnage band (>1,000,000 tonnes/year) as the third member of the BTX (benzene-toluene-xylene) aromatic chain. **Distinguishing pattern: BTX trio companion (after benzene + toluene batch 20) + isomer differentiation (PX dominates global demand at ~75% via PTA batch 9 chain) + naphtha reformer co-production with toluene + lighter hazard than toluene (no Repr 2 classification).** Mixed-xylene CAS 1330-20-7 covers ortho- (95-47-6), meta- (108-38-3), para- (106-42-3) xylenes plus ~15-20% co-eluting ethylbenzene (100-41-4). Para-xylene (PX, CAS 106-42-3) is the highest-value isomer (~75% of demand) feeding PTA (purified terephthalic acid, batch 9) → polyester chain. Ortho-xylene (~15%) feeds phthalic anhydride. Meta-xylene (~5%) feeds isophthalic acid. Mixed-xylene (technical-grade) is solvent-grade. NOT SVHC. NOT Annex XIV. NO active EU AD case on Chinese-origin xylene currently.

Xylene mixed isomers (CAS 1330-20-7) is fully REACH-registered with **lighter hazard profile than toluene batch 20** (Flam. Liq. 3 + Acute Tox. 4 dermal / inhalation + Skin Irrit. 2 + STOT RE 2; NOT Repr 2). NOT subject to Annex XVII Restriction 48 (toluene-only retail-product restriction). NO active EU AD case. NOT in CBAM Phase 1. The dominant economic story for Chinese-origin xylene is the **PX (para-xylene CAS 106-42-3) chain integration** with PTA (batch 9) → polyester chain: ~75% of xylene demand is PX-targeted. Major Chinese producers: Sinopec (Yangzi + Shanghai + Maoming + Yueyang), CNPC (Karamay + Jilin + Daqing), Hengli Petrochemical Dalian, Wanhua Chemical Yantai, Zhejiang Petrochemical Zhoushan / ZRCC. China dominates global capacity (~50% PX-equivalent, ~25-30 Mt/yr PX-equivalent). Capacity additions 2024-2026 (Hengli Petrochemical Phase 4, Zhejiang Petrochemical Phase 3) extend dominance toward ~55%. Petroleum reformer route dominates (~80%); steam-cracker pyrolysis-gasoline ~20%. Isomer differentiation: PX (~75%, PTA chain), OX (~15%, phthalic anhydride), MX (~5%, isophthalic acid), mixed-xylene technical-grade solvent (~5%).

Listing and threshold

Substance Xylene (mixed isomers) (CAS 1330-20-7), C8H10
Regime EU Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006: Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals
Jurisdiction European Union (EU-27 plus EEA: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway)
Status Registered
Tonnage threshold Registration required for any importer or manufacturer placing >1 t/year on the EU market

Classifications under this regime

  • Harmonised CLP classification: Flam. Liq. 3 (H226, "flammable liquid and vapour"), Acute Tox. 4 dermal (H312), Acute Tox. 4 inhalation (H332), Skin Irrit. 2 (H315), STOT RE 2 (H373, central nervous system + auditory system + kidney)
  • Signal word: WARNING
  • GHS pictograms: GHS02 (flame), GHS07 (exclamation mark), GHS08 (health hazard, target organ)
  • NOT classified as Repr 2 (lighter than toluene batch 20 which IS Repr 2)
  • NOT classified as carcinogen, mutagen, or reproductive toxicant
  • IARC: xylene (mixed isomers) classified Group 3 (not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans), IARC Monograph Vol 71 (1999) (verify against https://monographs.iarc.who.int/list-of-classifications)
  • NOT subject to Drug Precursors Reg 273/2004
  • NOT subject to Explosives Precursors Reg 2019/1148
  • ADR / RID transport classification: Class 3 (flammable liquid), UN 1307, Packing Group II (or III depending on flash point)

Restrictions and conditions of use

  • NOT on REACH Annex XIV (Authorisation list)
  • NOT classified as SVHC
  • NOT subject to any Annex XVII restriction at standard industrial-grade level (lighter than toluene batch 20 which IS Annex XVII Restriction 48)
  • NO active EU AD case on Chinese-origin xylene currently
  • Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM): NOT in CBAM Phase 1 scope; potential Phase 2 candidate post-2026 review
  • EU Reg 10/2011 food-contact: xylene specific migration limit applies for plastic food-contact materials

Importer obligations

A non-EU producer cannot register directly under REACH. The EU importer of record must hold a registration or rely on an Only Representative (OR). Lighter hazard profile than toluene (no Repr 2 classification). 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 EU domestic producers (BP / INEOS Hull, Shell Chemicals Pernis, BASF Ludwigshafen, ExxonMobil Antwerp). The dominant economic story for Chinese-origin xylene is the **PX (para-xylene CAS 106-42-3) chain integration** with PTA (batch 9) → polyester chain; ~75% of xylene demand is PX-targeted via para-xylene isomerisation / extraction.

Required documents

  • REACH registration number on the EU side (registrant or OR-appointed)
  • Safety Data Sheet (SDS) compliant with REACH Annex II in destination Member State language(s) reflecting H226 / H312 / H315 / H332 / H373 classification
  • CLP-compliant labelling with GHS02 + GHS07 + GHS08 pictograms and WARNING signal word
  • Customs entry with HS code 290244 (mixed xylenes) or 290241 (o-xylene), 290242 (m-xylene), 290243 (p-xylene)
  • ADR consignment note for transport (Class 3, UN 1307, PG II / III)

Common compliance traps

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

  • **Lighter hazard profile than toluene batch 20**: NOT Repr 2, NOT subject to Annex XVII Restriction 48 retail-product restriction
  • **PX (para-xylene CAS 106-42-3) chain dominates demand**: ~75% of xylene demand is PX-targeted via para-xylene isomerisation / extraction; PX feeds PTA batch 9 → polyester chain (PET bottles, polyester fibre)
  • BTX trio chain economics: xylene + benzene + toluene markets coupled via naphtha reformer + steam-cracker pyrolysis-gasoline integrated economics
  • NOT a drug precursor, NOT in CBAM Phase 1
  • NO active EU AD case on Chinese xylene currently
  • Major Chinese producers: Sinopec (Yangzi + Shanghai + Maoming + Yueyang), CNPC (Karamay + Jilin + Daqing), Hengli Petrochemical Dalian, Wanhua Chemical Yantai, Zhejiang Petrochemical Zhoushan / ZRCC. China dominates global capacity (~50% PX-equivalent, ~25-30 Mt/yr PX-equivalent)
  • Petroleum reformer route dominates globally (~80%); steam-cracker pyrolysis-gasoline route ~20%
  • Isomer differentiation: PX (~75% of demand) feeds PTA → polyester; OX (~15%) feeds phthalic anhydride; MX (~5%) feeds isophthalic acid; mixed-xylene technical-grade is solvent-grade (~5%)

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 REACH, see the 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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