Specialty Intermediates from China
Pharmaceutical intermediates, fine chemicals, agrochemical intermediates, electronic chemicals, and specialty organic compounds for high-value downstream synthesis.
Specialty intermediates cover the long tail of fine chemicals, pharmaceutical key starting materials and intermediates, agrochemical actives and intermediates, electronic-grade specialty chemicals, photoinitiators, fragrance and flavor intermediates, and a wide range of bespoke organic compounds for downstream synthesis.
Sourcing specialty intermediates from China requires the most careful factory selection of any chemical category. The downstream user's regulatory exposure is high, pharmaceutical buyers operate under FDA cGMP and ICH Q7 expectations, agrochemical buyers under EPA and APVMA registration data integrity, electronics buyers under tight purity and metallic-impurity specs. A factory good enough for industrial-grade chemistry is rarely good enough for specialty-intermediate work.
Compliance considerations are especially heavy in this category. Many specialty intermediates are not on the TSCA Inventory and require Section 5 PMN filing or LVE coverage before US import. EU REACH registration coverage for niche intermediates is often producer-specific and limited in tonnage band. Australian AICIS introduction category often requires reported or assessed introduction rather than listed introduction. Plan a 3 to 6 month regulatory runway for any new specialty intermediate, longer for substances under risk evaluation.
Pre-shipment inspection on specialty intermediates almost always includes full third-party laboratory analysis to the buyer's spec, not just to the factory's spec. The cost is meaningful. USD 1,000 to USD 3,000 per batch for full HPLC and GC analysis at SGS or Bureau Veritas, but the cost of accepting an out-of-spec batch is multiples higher.
Products we ship
22 specialty intermediates we move regularly
Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA)
DG Class 3Applications: Pharma solvent, electronics cleaning, cosmetics, hand sanitizer, PCB manufacturing
Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK)
DG Class 3Applications: Coatings, adhesives, printing inks, magnetic tape, dewaxing solvent
N-Methyl-2-Pyrrolidone (NMP)
Non-DGApplications: Lithium ion battery electrode slurry, paint strippers, electronics, pharmaceutical synthesis
Methyl tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE)
DG Class 3Applications: Gasoline octane booster, fuel blending component, LSFO additive
Perchloroethylene (PCE)
DG Class 6.1Applications: Dry cleaning solvent, metal degreasing, chemical intermediate for HFCs
Dimethyl Disulfide (DMDS)
DG Class 3Applications: Refinery catalyst presulfiding, hydroprocessing unit passivation, soil fumigant, nematicide
Acrylonitrile
DG Class 3+6.1Applications: ABS and SAN plastics, acrylic fiber, nitrile rubber (NBR), acrylamide production
2-Ethylhexanol (2-EH)
DG Class 3Applications: DOP/DOTP plasticizer intermediate, 2-EH acrylate, antifoaming agent, fuel additive
1-Hexene
DG Class 3Applications: LLDPE and HDPE comonomer, viscosity index improver intermediate, surfactant synthesis
Isophthalic Acid (PIA)
Non-DGApplications: Unsaturated polyester resins, alkyd resins, PET copolymers, powder coatings, hot melt adhesives
Hydrogen Bromide Solution 48%
DG Class 8Applications: Pharmaceutical synthesis, flame retardant bromination, organic intermediate production
PVC Resin SG-5 / SG-3
Non-DGApplications: Rigid pressure pipe (SG-5), window profiles, cable insulation. SG-3 for flexible calendered sheet and plastisol.
PET Resin. Bottle Grade
Non-DGApplications: CSD and water bottle preforms (IV 0.80), packaging film, strapping tape, polyester fiber feedstock (IV 0.65 to 0.68)
Melamine-Formaldehyde Resin (MF Resin)
Non-DGApplications: Decorative laminates (HPL/LPL), dinnerware, paper wet strength treatment resin, textile finishing
Potassium Carbonate (K₂CO₃)
Non-DGApplications: Glass manufacturing (borosilicate, optical, TV glass), potash fertilizer, baking powder precursor, welding flux, inorganic pigment production
Glycerol Monostearate (GMS 90)
Non-DGApplications: Food emulsifier E471 for bread and margarine, anti fog additive for PE film, internal lubricant for PVC and PS
Citric Acid Anhydrous / Monohydrate
Non-DGApplications: Beverage acidulant, food preservation pH control, pharmaceutical chelating agent, metal cleaning, detergent builder
Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C). E300
Non-DGApplications: Antioxidant in food and beverage, vitamin supplement, pharmaceutical API, cosmetic antioxidant, flour improver
L-Lysine HCl 98.5%
Non-DGApplications: Essential amino acid supplement in poultry and swine feed, pharmaceutical grade L-lysine available on request
L-Threonine 98.5%
Non-DGApplications: Feed grade essential amino acid for broilers, layers and swine, reduces crude protein in balanced feed formulations
Potassium Sorbate. E202
Non-DGApplications: Broad spectrum food preservative for bakery, dairy, beverages, wine, cosmetics (inhibits yeast and mold at pH ≤6.5)
Glyphosate Technical (95%)
Non-DGApplications: Active ingredient for broad spectrum post emergent herbicide formulations, systemic non selective weed control in agriculture
This is a representative selection, not the full list. Send us the CAS number or product description and we will quote the same day.
Documentation chain
Terms that come up on every specialty intermediates shipment
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TSCA, Toxic Substances Control Act
US federal law that gives the EPA authority to track and restrict the manufacture, import, processing, distribution, and disposal of industrial chemicals.
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REACH, Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals
EU chemical regulation requiring importers and manufacturers to register every substance manufactured or imported into the EU above 1 tonne per year. Registration is identity-based and dossier-based, not inventory-lookup-based, which makes it stricter than TSCA in the US.
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AICIS, Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme
Australian regulatory scheme for industrial chemicals. Replaced NICNAS in July 2020. Categorises chemical introductions by risk and assigns annual reporting obligations to importers and manufacturers.
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COA, Certificate of Analysis
A document issued by the manufacturer (or by an accredited third-party lab) certifying that a specific batch of a chemical or material meets the agreed specification. Lists tested parameters, results, the test methods used, and a batch number that ties back to production.
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SGS, SGS Pre-Shipment Inspection
Independent third-party inspection conducted by SGS (Société Générale de Surveillance), or comparable bodies like Bureau Veritas and Intertek, at the factory before a chemical or industrial cargo is loaded for export. Verifies quantity, packaging, labelling, and conformity to the agreed specification.
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Section 5 PMN, Section 5 Premanufacture Notice
A pre-manufacture filing required under TSCA Section 5 when a US manufacturer or importer intends to introduce a new chemical substance not on the TSCA Inventory. The EPA has 90 days to review and may impose use restrictions, testing requirements, or outright prohibition.
Need specialty intermediates from China?
Send us the spec.
Product name, CAS number, HS code, or a rough description is enough to start. Our Shanghai team responds within 24 hours with factory-direct pricing, the documentation chain, and the duty stack quantified.
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