CAS 25038-59-9 · REACH · European Union

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) under REACH

(C10H8O4)n · 聚对苯二甲酸乙二醇酯

Status: Exempt. PET is **REACH-EXEMPT under Article 2(9) polymer exemption**. **Distinguishing pattern: closes PTA batch 9 + MEG batch 8 chain via condensation polymerisation (PTA + MEG → PET + H2O; ~99% globally) + 3 grades (textile-grade polyester fibre + film-grade + bottle-grade) + Article 2(9) polymer exemption + polyester fibre dominant globally (>50% of all textile fibre) + EU Single-Use Plastics Directive (Reg 2019/904) PET-bottle 30% rPET by 2030 mandate + EU PPWR Reg 2025/40 + Hengli Petrochemical world's largest single-company PET capacity + closes Korean PX → PTA → PET chain (NEW combined).** No GHS classification at industrial-grade. NOT SVHC. NOT Annex XIV. **Active EU AD case on Chinese-origin PET per Reg (EU) 2023/2659**: provisional duties 6.6 to 24.2 percent imposed late 2023, made definitive April 2024 per V1 audit verification (verify the most recent definitive duty regulation and producer-specific rate against EUR-Lex https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/2659/oj before invoicing).

PET is **REACH-exempt under Article 2(9) polymer exemption**. **Closes PTA batch 9 + MEG batch 8 chain via condensation polymerisation**. NOT SVHC. **Active EU AD case on Chinese-origin PET per Reg (EU) 2023/2659** (definitive 6.6 to 24.2 percent from April 2024; verify against EUR-Lex https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/2659/oj before invoicing). NOT in CBAM Phase 1. **EU Single-Use Plastics Directive Reg 2019/904 + EU PPWR Reg 2025/40** drive rPET targets (30% by 2030 + 65% by 2040). China dominates global PET capacity (~50%, ~50-55 Mt/yr) led by **Hengli Petrochemical (a leading PET producer; verify the most recent global PET nameplate ranking against the Hengli Petrochemical investor site before quoting world-largest rank)**, Tongkun, Wankai New Materials, Xinjiang Wanrui, Zhejiang Petrochemical / ZRCC, Yisheng Petrochemical, Sanfangxiang. End-use: textile-grade polyester fibre (~70%, >50% of all textile fibre globally), bottle-grade incl. rPET (~20%), film-grade (~10%).

Listing and threshold

Substance Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) (CAS 25038-59-9), (C10H8O4)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 monomers PTA (CAS 100-21-0; batch 9 entry) + MEG (CAS 107-21-1; batch 8 entry) IS REACH-registered

Classifications under this regime

  • Article 2(9) polymer exemption (constituent monomers PTA batch 9 + MEG batch 8 separately registered)
  • NO harmonised CLP classification at industrial-grade level
  • IARC: not classified
  • EU Reg 10/2011 food-contact: PET is the dominant beverage-bottle plastic; SML applies for monomer + additive migration
  • **EU Single-Use Plastics Directive (Reg (EU) 2019/904)** (verify the consolidated Directive text and effective date against EUR-Lex https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2019/904/oj before relying) PET-bottle target: 25% rPET in PET bottles by 2025 + 30% by 2030
  • **EU PPWR (Reg 2025/40)** mandates 30% recycled-content for PET beverage bottles by 2030 + 65% by 2040

Restrictions and conditions of use

  • Article 2(9) polymer exemption applies
  • NOT classified as SVHC
  • NOT subject to any Annex XVII restriction
  • **Active EU AD case on Chinese-origin PET per Reg (EU) 2023/2659**: provisional duties 6.6 to 24.2 percent imposed late 2023; definitive duties from April 2024 per V1 audit verification (verify the current per-producer rate and the most recent definitive duty regulation against EUR-Lex https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/2659/oj before invoicing). Prior dataset references to Reg 1331/2011 plus Reg 461/2013 as historical AD on Chinese PET were superseded by Reg 2023/2659.
  • NOT in CBAM Phase 1 scope
  • **EU Polymer Strategy revision (2026-2027 timeline)** is candidate for polymer registration; PET high-priority
  • **EU Single-Use Plastics Directive Reg 2019/904** PET-bottle rPET targets effective phased 2025-2030
  • **EU PPWR Reg 2025/40** mandates 30% rPET by 2030 + 65% by 2040 for PET beverage bottles

Importer obligations

Polymers REACH-exempt under Article 2(9). Major Chinese producers: **Hengli Petrochemical (a leading PET producer with integrated upstream PX plus PTA batch 9 plus ethylene plus MEG batch 8 chain; verify the most recent global PET nameplate ranking against the Hengli Petrochemical investor site before quoting world-largest rank)**, Tongkun, Wankai New Materials, Xinjiang Wanrui, Zhejiang Petrochemical Zhoushan / ZRCC, Yisheng Petrochemical, Sanfangxiang.

Required documents

  • Customs entry with HS code 39076900 (PET) or 39076110 (PET pre-form)
  • EU Reg 10/2011 food-contact compliance documentation
  • **EU Single-Use Plastics Directive Reg 2019/904 + EU PPWR Reg 2025/40 rPET compliance documentation**

Common compliance traps

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

  • **REACH-exempt under Article 2(9) polymer exemption**
  • **Closes PTA batch 9 + MEG batch 8 chain via condensation polymerisation**
  • **3 grades**: textile-grade polyester fibre (~70% of demand globally; >50% of all textile fibre), film-grade (~10%), bottle-grade (~20%, with growing rPET share)
  • Constituent monomers PTA batch 9 + MEG batch 8 IS REACH-registered separately
  • **EU Single-Use Plastics Directive Reg 2019/904** PET-bottle 25% rPET by 2025 + 30% by 2030
  • **EU PPWR Reg 2025/40** mandates 30% rPET by 2030 + 65% by 2040 for PET beverage bottles
  • **State-level US rPET legislation**: California AB 793 (50% rPET by 2030), Washington 5022, New Jersey A4676, Maine LD 1541
  • **Active EU AD case on Chinese-origin PET per Reg (EU) 2023/2659** (provisional 6.6 to 24.2 percent late 2023; definitive April 2024 per V1 audit; verify against EUR-Lex https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/2659/oj before invoicing)
  • NOT in CBAM Phase 1
  • Major Chinese producers: **Hengli Petrochemical (a leading PET producer; verify the most recent global PET nameplate ranking against the Hengli Petrochemical investor site before quoting world-largest rank)**, Tongkun, Wankai New Materials, Xinjiang Wanrui, Zhejiang Petrochemical / ZRCC, Yisheng Petrochemical, Sanfangxiang. China dominates global PET capacity (~50%, ~50-55 Mt/yr)
  • Production: PTA + MEG → PET + H2O condensation polymerisation; melt-phase + solid-state polymerisation
  • End-use mix: textile-grade polyester fibre (~70%, dominant; >50% of all textile fibre globally), bottle-grade including rPET (~20%, rapidly growing rPET share post-EU + state-level legislation), film-grade (~10%)

Where to read next

For substance-level identifiers (formula, molecular weight, SMILES, InChIKey), GHS hazard profile, IMDG transport class, and full sourcing reference for polyethylene terephthalate (pet), see the CAS 25038-59-9 sourcing reference.

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