CAS 98-82-8 · K-REACH · Republic of Korea

Cumene (isopropylbenzene) under K-REACH

C9H12 · 异丙苯 / 枯烯

Status: Registered. Cumene is registered under K-REACH and listed as a Priority Existing Chemical (PEC). Korean GHS classification matches REACH (Asp. Tox. 1 plus Flam. Liq. 3 plus STOT RE 2 plus Aquatic Chronic 2). NOT on Korea TCCA Toxic Chemicals list. NOT on Korean Drug Management Act precursor list. NO active Korean AD/CVD case on Chinese-origin cumene. **Korea has substantial domestic cumene production at Yeosu** (LG Chem, Lotte Chemical, Hanwha Solutions, Kumho P&B Chemicals integrated cumene-Hock phenol-acetone capacity); structurally balanced. KCFTA preferential zero-duty applies for Chinese-origin imports (rare due to cumene-Hock chain captivity).

K-REACH treats cumene as a routine PEC-registered substance with no TCCA overlay. **Korea has substantial domestic cumene production at Yeosu** (LG Chem, Lotte Chemical, Hanwha Solutions, Kumho P&B Chemicals integrated cumene-Hock phenol-acetone capacity); structurally balanced. NO active Korean AD/CVD case. KCFTA preferential zero-duty supports Chinese-origin supplemental supply. **Cumene distinguishing pattern across all 5 regimes**: cumene-Hock process route to phenol batch 13 plus acetone batch 15 joint-product chain (~95 percent of cumene demand globally; 1.6 to 1 phenol-to-acetone fixed mass ratio drives integrated plant economics) + benzene batch 22 plus propylene batch 53 Friedel-Crafts alkylation route (~99 percent globally) + Asp. Tox. 1 (aspiration hazard, H304) + STOT RE 2 (kidneys) + Aquatic Chronic 2 + IARC Group 2B carcinogen since 2013 IARC Monograph 101 + Cal Prop 65 carcinogen since 6 April 2010 + 0% China VAT export rebate + Korean cumene-Hock-phenol-acetone-BPA integrated chain at Yeosu.

Listing and threshold

Substance Cumene (isopropylbenzene) (CAS 98-82-8), C9H12
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 registration required for existing chemicals manufactured or imported >1 tonne/year (verified per Korean Ministry of Environment / NIER guidance, https://chemical.chemlinked.com/chempedia/k-reach; threshold for new substances was reduced from 0.1 t/y to 1 t/y effective 1 January 2025 per K-REACH 2025 amendment)

Classifications under this regime

  • Korean GHS classification: Flam. Liq. 3 (H226), Asp. Tox. 1 (H304), Skin Irrit. 2 (H315), STOT RE 2 (H373), Aquatic Acute 1 (H400), Aquatic Chronic 2 (H411)
  • Signal word: DANGER. GHS pictograms: GHS02 plus GHS07 plus GHS08 plus GHS09
  • Korea Occupational Safety and Health Act (KOSHA) workplace exposure standard: 50 ppm 8-hr TWA, skin notation
  • NOT on Korea TCCA Toxic Chemicals list
  • NOT on Korean Drug Management Act precursor list
  • Korean Customs Service (KCS) HS code: 290270
  • **IARC: Group 2B (possibly carcinogenic to humans) since 2013 Monograph 101**

Restrictions and conditions of use

  • No TCCA Toxic Chemicals Handling Permit required
  • Korea Industrial Safety and Health Act (KOSHA) MSDS in Korean required at workplace
  • NO active Korean AD/CVD case on Chinese-origin cumene currently
  • KCFTA preferential zero-duty applies to Chinese-origin cumene (HS 290270)

Importer obligations

The Korean importer of record must hold K-REACH registration. Korea has substantial domestic cumene production at Yeosu (LG Chem, Lotte Chemical, Hanwha Solutions, Kumho P&B Chemicals integrated cumene-Hock phenol-acetone capacity); supplemental imports flow during plant outages. Korean downstream consumers: same producers operate cumene-Hock phenol-acetone capacity (LG Chem plus Lotte Chemical plus Hanwha plus Kumho P&B), Korean BPA batch 33 chain (LG Chem plus Lotte Chemical PC chain).

Required documents

  • K-REACH registration number on Korean side (registrant or OR-appointed)
  • Korean-language MSDS compliant with Korean GHS reflecting H226 / H304 / H315 / H373 / H400 / H411 classification
  • Korean Customs Service (KCS) declaration with HS code 290270
  • China-Korea FTA Form CO certificate of origin for preferential treatment
  • Industrial-grade specification certificate

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
  • Korea has substantial domestic cumene production at Yeosu (LG Chem, Lotte Chemical, Hanwha Solutions, Kumho P&B Chemicals); structurally balanced
  • KCFTA preferential zero-duty applies but cumene-Hock chain captivity limits bulk trade
  • NO active Korean AD/CVD case on Chinese cumene currently
  • NOT on TCCA Toxic Chemicals list
  • Korean cumene-Hock phenol-acetone-BPA chain at Yeosu integrates with downstream LG Chem polycarbonate plus epoxy resin chains

Where to read next

For substance-level identifiers (formula, molecular weight, SMILES, InChIKey), GHS hazard profile, IMDG transport class, and full sourcing reference for cumene (isopropylbenzene), see the CAS 98-82-8 sourcing reference.

For grade-by-grade buying notes, freight maths, supplier-tier pricing, and a worked landed-cost example, the cumene (isopropylbenzene) 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.

Read next

Cross-jurisdiction profile and sourcing references

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