CAS 9002-86-2 · K-REACH · Republic of Korea

Polyvinyl chloride under K-REACH

(C2H3Cl)n · 聚氯乙烯

Status: Registered. Polyvinyl chloride is registered under K-REACH as a polymer of low concern (polymer exemption equivalent applies). The constituent vinyl chloride monomer (VCM, CAS 75-01-4) is registered separately and IS on the Korea TCCA Toxic Chemicals list as Carcinogen Cat 1A. Korea has substantial domestic PVC production (Hanwha Solutions, LG Chem, OCI, Sungkwang Chemical) and is structurally a balanced market with both domestic supply and imports. Korea is a signatory to the Minamata Convention on Mercury.

K-REACH treats PVC polymer as a routine polymer-of-low-concern registration with no TCCA overlay (VCM monomer IS TCCA-listed as Carcinogen Cat 1A but the polymer is not). Korea has substantial domestic PVC capacity (Hanwha Solutions Yeosu / Daesan, LG Chem Yeosu / Daesan, OCI Pohang, Sungkwang Chemical) so imported Chinese PVC competes with domestic supply on price and grade segmentation. KCFTA preferential zero-duty supports cost-competitive Chinese supply. Korea Children's Products Safety Act phthalate limits drive plasticiser-composition compliance for downstream toys and childcare. Minamata Convention mercury-catalyst compliance is increasingly factored into Korean construction-grade buyer supplier selection; ethylene-route Chinese PVC (Sinopec Qilu, LG Chem Daya Bay, Sumitomo Tianjin) increasingly preferred over coal-route producers (Inner Mongolia Junzheng, Xinjiang Tianye, Qinghai Salt Lake). Korean construction-grade demand (Hyundai E&C, Samsung C&T, GS E&C, Daewoo E&C) is the structural pull.

Listing and threshold

Substance Polyvinyl chloride (CAS 9002-86-2), (C2H3Cl)n
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 polymer exemption applies. VCM monomer requires K-REACH registration and TCCA Toxic Chemicals Handling Permit

Classifications under this regime

  • Polymer of low concern, exempt from full K-REACH registration under polymer exemption rules
  • Constituent VCM (CAS 75-01-4) IS K-REACH registered and IS on TCCA Toxic Chemicals list as Carcinogen Cat 1A
  • Korean GHS classification for finished PVC: NOT classified as hazardous
  • Phthalate plasticisers (DEHP, DBP, BBP, DIBP) regulated separately under MFDS (children's product safety) and KOSHA (workplace exposure)
  • Korea Occupational Safety and Health Act (KOSHA) workplace exposure standard for VCM monomer: 1 ppm TWA (carcinogen)
  • Korean Customs Service (KCS) HS code: 39041000 / 39042100 / 39043000
  • Korea Children's Products Safety Act: phthalate limits in children's products (DEHP, DBP, BBP at 0.1%)

Restrictions and conditions of use

  • No TCCA Toxic Chemicals Handling Permit required for finished PVC polymer (VCM DOES require)
  • No Chemical Accident Prevention Plan (CAPP) required for finished PVC polymer
  • Korea Industrial Safety and Health Act (KOSHA) MSDS in Korean required at workplace
  • Korea Customs Service requires K-REACH registration number on import declaration
  • Korea Children's Products Safety Act limits phthalate plasticisers (DEHP, DBP, BBP) in children's products to 0.1%
  • Korea is signatory to Minamata Convention on Mercury (ratified 2019); coal-route Chinese PVC mercury-catalyst compliance is increasingly factored into supplier selection by Korean construction-grade buyers
  • No active Korean AD/CVD case on Chinese-origin PVC currently
  • KCFTA preferential zero-duty applies to Chinese-origin PVC (HS 3904); verify producer-specific eligibility (Form CO certified by Chinese authority)

Importer obligations

The Korean importer of record must hold K-REACH polymer notification (polymer exemption equivalent) in their own name or rely on an Only Representative (OR). Korea has substantial domestic PVC capacity at Hanwha Solutions (Yeosu, Daesan), LG Chem (Yeosu, Daesan), OCI (Pohang), and Sungkwang Chemical; imports compete with domestic supply on price and grade segmentation. KCFTA preferential zero-duty supports cost-competitive Chinese supply; Korean Children's Products Safety Act phthalate limits drive plasticiser-composition compliance for downstream toys and childcare-article applications.

Required documents

  • K-REACH polymer registration / notification number on Korean side (registrant or OR-appointed)
  • Korean-language MSDS compliant with Korean GHS for finished PVC polymer
  • Korean Customs Service (KCS) declaration with HS code 39041000 / 39042100 / 39043000
  • China-Korea FTA Form CO certificate of origin for preferential treatment
  • Plasticiser composition declaration (Korea Children's Products Safety Act phthalate limits compliance for children's product end-use)
  • Production-route declaration (coal-route vs ethylene-route, where buyer requires under Minamata Convention compliance)
  • K-value / viscosity-grade specification (K55-K80)

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; SDS in English-only is rejected at workplace inspection
  • Korea has substantial domestic PVC capacity at Hanwha Solutions, LG Chem, OCI, Sungkwang; imports compete with domestic on price and grade segmentation
  • KCFTA preferential zero-duty applies but verify producer-specific eligibility (Form CO certified by Chinese authority)
  • Korea Children's Products Safety Act phthalate limits drive plasticiser-composition compliance for downstream toy / childcare end-use; verify before invoicing flexible PVC for these applications
  • Coal-route Chinese PVC (calcium carbide chain with mercury catalyst) raises Minamata Convention compliance concern; some Korean buyers prefer ethylene-route Chinese PVC over coal-route
  • Ethylene-route Chinese PVC producers (Sinopec Qilu Shandong, LG Chem Daya Bay Guangdong, Sumitomo Chemical Tianjin) carry cleaner Scope 3 profile vs inland coal-route producers (Inner Mongolia Junzheng, Xinjiang Tianye, Qinghai Salt Lake)
  • Korean construction-grade demand (Hyundai Engineering & Construction, Samsung C&T, GS E&C, Daewoo E&C) is the structural pull for K-Pipe, K-Profile, and K-Window applications

Where to read next

For substance-level identifiers (formula, molecular weight, SMILES, InChIKey), GHS hazard profile, IMDG transport class, and full sourcing reference for polyvinyl chloride, see the CAS 9002-86-2 sourcing reference.

For grade-by-grade buying notes, freight maths, supplier-tier pricing, and a worked landed-cost example, the polyvinyl chloride 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.

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Cross-jurisdiction profile and sourcing references

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