CAS 25038-54-4 · REACH · European Union

Nylon-6 (polycaprolactam, polyamide-6) under REACH

(C6H11NO)n · 尼龙-6 / 聚己内酰胺

Status: Exempt. Nylon-6 is **REACH-EXEMPT under Article 2(9) polymer exemption**. **Distinguishing pattern: closes caprolactam batch 14 chain via ring-opening polymerisation (caprolactam → nylon-6; ~99% globally) + Article 2(9) polymer exemption + textile fibre + engineering plastic + film + tyre cord primary downstream + Sinopec Baling + Sinopec Shijiazhuang + Hengyi Petrochemical + Tianlong + Lujian Caprolactam Chinese capacity dominance (same producers as caprolactam batch 14, integrated upstream + downstream chain) + EU trade-defence status on Chinese-origin nylon-6 or nylon-6 yarn (verify the current measure status, regulation number, and producer-specific rate against EUR-Lex https://eur-lex.europa.eu/ before invoicing; prior EU AD measures on polyamide / nylon yarn from China have existed but the current status on nylon-6 primary form HS 39081000 must be re-checked) (NEW combined).** No GHS classification at industrial-grade. NOT SVHC. NOT Annex XIV.

Nylon-6 is **REACH-exempt under Article 2(9) polymer exemption**. **Closes caprolactam batch 14 chain via ring-opening polymerisation**. NOT SVHC. EU trade-defence status on Chinese-origin nylon-6 unverified at audit (verify current measure status, regulation number, and per-producer rate against EUR-Lex https://eur-lex.europa.eu/ before invoicing); if a measure is in force, producer-specific rates apply. NOT in CBAM Phase 1. Major Chinese producers: same as caprolactam batch 14 (Sinopec Baling + Shijiazhuang + Hengyi + Tianlong + Lujian + Yangmei-Hengtian + Fujian Shenyuan + Hubei Sanning), integrated upstream + downstream chain. End-use mix per ICIS / S&P Commodity Insights (verify before quoting specific percent splits): textile fibre, engineering plastic + film, tyre cord, other.

Listing and threshold

Substance Nylon-6 (polycaprolactam, polyamide-6) (CAS 25038-54-4), (C6H11NO)n
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 Exempt
Tonnage threshold Article 2(9) polymer exemption: no REACH registration required for the polymer itself. Constituent monomer caprolactam (CAS 105-60-2; batch 14 entry) IS REACH-registered

Classifications under this regime

  • Article 2(9) polymer exemption (constituent monomer caprolactam batch 14 separately registered)
  • NO harmonised CLP classification at industrial-grade level
  • IARC: not classified
  • EU Reg 10/2011 food-contact: nylon-6 permitted as plastic food-contact material; caprolactam monomer residue regulated at SML 15 mg/kg food (per batch 14 entry)

Restrictions and conditions of use

  • Article 2(9) polymer exemption applies
  • NOT classified as SVHC
  • NOT subject to any Annex XVII restriction at standard industrial-grade level
  • **EU trade-defence status on Chinese-origin nylon-6 or nylon-6 yarn unverified at audit** (prior AD measures on polyamide / nylon yarn from China have existed historically; verify the current measure status, regulation number, expiry-review status, and per-producer rate against EUR-Lex https://eur-lex.europa.eu/ before invoicing): any producer-specific rates would apply only if a measure is currently in force
  • NOT in CBAM Phase 1 scope
  • EU PPWR (Reg 2025/40) downstream impact for nylon-6 packaging applications

Importer obligations

Polymers REACH-exempt under Article 2(9). EU trade-defence status on Chinese-origin nylon-6 unverified at audit (verify current measure status against EUR-Lex https://eur-lex.europa.eu/ before invoicing); if a measure is in force, producer-specific AD margin verification at customs entry applies. Major Chinese producers: same as caprolactam batch 14 (**Sinopec Baling Hunan + Sinopec Shijiazhuang Hebei + Hengyi Petrochemical Zhejiang + Tianlong Shandong + Lujian Caprolactam Anhui + Yangmei Coal Industry-Hengtian Shanxi + Fujian Shenyuan Fujian + Hubei Sanning Hubei**), integrated upstream caprolactam + downstream nylon-6 chain.

Required documents

  • Customs entry with HS code 39081000 (nylon-6 primary form)
  • EU Reg 10/2011 food-contact compliance documentation
  • EU AD producer-specific margin documentation IF a current measure is in force (verify against EUR-Lex https://eur-lex.europa.eu/ before invoicing)
  • EU AD cash deposit at entry equivalent to producer-specific rate IF a current measure is in force

Common compliance traps

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

  • EU trade-defence status on Chinese-origin nylon-6 unverified at audit (prior AD measures on polyamide / nylon yarn from China have existed historically; verify the current measure status, regulation number, and per-producer rate against EUR-Lex https://eur-lex.europa.eu/ before invoicing); if a measure is in force, producer-specific rates apply
  • **Closes caprolactam batch 14 chain via ring-opening polymerisation**
  • REACH-exempt under Article 2(9) polymer exemption
  • NOT SVHC, NOT Annex XIV
  • NOT in CBAM Phase 1
  • Major Chinese producers: same as caprolactam batch 14 (Sinopec Baling + Sinopec Shijiazhuang + Hengyi Petrochemical + Tianlong + Lujian Caprolactam + Yangmei Coal Industry-Hengtian + Fujian Shenyuan + Hubei Sanning); integrated upstream caprolactam + downstream nylon-6 chain
  • Production: caprolactam ring-opening polymerisation is the dominant route globally (verify the percent-of-route share against ICIS or S&P Commodity Insights before quoting)
  • End-use mix per ICIS / S&P Commodity Insights (verify before quoting specific percent splits): textile fibre (alongside polyester PET batch 49 in synthetic fibre market), engineering plastic + film (automotive + electronics + appliances), tyre cord, other

Where to read next

For substance-level identifiers (formula, molecular weight, SMILES, InChIKey), GHS hazard profile, IMDG transport class, and full sourcing reference for nylon-6 (polycaprolactam, polyamide-6), see the CAS 25038-54-4 sourcing reference.

For grade-by-grade buying notes, freight maths, supplier-tier pricing, and a worked landed-cost example, the nylon-6 (polycaprolactam, polyamide-6) 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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