How do I export chemical products?

Major Export Markets and Country-Specific Regulatory Environment

China is Korea's largest chemical product export market, but due to China's chemical self-sufficiency improvement policy (dual carbon targets) and strengthening domestic industry protection, the export structure is trending toward upgrading from basic chemicals to fine and specialty chemicals. In the US, following IRA implementation, demand for Korean chemical companies has increased in the battery materials and semiconductor chemicals sectors, and compliance with EPA's (Environmental Protection Agency) TSCA (Toxic Substances Control Act) regulations is a basic requirement for market entry. The EU market applies the world's strictest chemical substance regulatory framework through REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals), and registration with ECHA (European Chemicals Agency) is mandatory for chemicals manufactured or exported within the EU at over 1 ton per year. India shows continued growing import demand in petrochemical raw materials, pesticides, and specialty chemicals alongside its chemical manufacturing promotion policy (Production Linked Incentive), and BIS certification and securing local partners are key to market entry. Southeast Asia is a strategically expanding export region where demand for industrial chemicals such as paints, adhesives, and surfactants for detergents is rapidly growing alongside accelerating industrialization.

Essential Certifications and Chemical Regulatory Compliance

The most important regulatory compliance for Korean chemical product exports is domestic registration under the Chemical Substances Registration and Evaluation Act (K-REACH) and responding to chemical substance regulations of each export country. Under EU REACH regulations, chemicals exported in volumes exceeding 1 ton per year must be registered with ECHA, with registration costs ranging from hundreds of thousands to hundreds of millions of KRW depending on the substance and export volume. Under US TSCA (40 CFR Part 720), new substances not on the US TSCA Inventory must submit a PMN (Pre-Manufacture Notice) to the EPA, with a standard processing period of 90 days. SDS (Safety Data Sheet) and labeling under GHS (Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals) are mandatory in most export countries, and must be prepared to match each country's GHS implementation stage and language requirements. Pesticide-related chemical substances (agricultural pesticides, fungicides, insecticides) must undergo separate pesticide registration procedures in each country (US EPA, EU Biocidal Products Regulation BPR), requiring much more complex and long-term registration strategies than general chemical substances.

Export Procedures, HS Codes, and Customs Clearance Practice

Chemical product HS codes are distributed across Chapters 28 (inorganic chemicals) through 38 (miscellaneous chemical industry products), and since the detailed classification is very complex, advance HS code confirmation with an authorized customs agent is essential. Representative HS codes include organic compounds (Chapter 29), pharmaceutical raw materials (Chapter 30), fertilizers (Chapter 31), paints and pigments (Chapter 32), surfactants and detergents (Chapter 34), and specialty chemicals (Chapter 38). In addition to basic export documents (commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin) for chemical product exports, hazardous materials must be accompanied by a Dangerous Goods Declaration (DGD) and Safety Data Sheet (SDS) in accordance with IMDG Code (maritime) and IATA DGR (aviation) regulations. Chemical substances classified as strategic materials (dual-use goods) must obtain export licenses from the Strategic Trade Division of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and Schedule chemicals related to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) are subject to particularly strict export controls. The K-CISS (Strategic Trade Self-Assessment System) must be used to self-check for export control applicability before export declaration, and in uncertain cases, an official interpretation from the Strategic Trade Division must be obtained.

Buyer Sourcing Strategy

B2B buyer sourcing for chemical products can be effectively conducted through global chemistry-specialized databases (ChemConnect, ICIS, IHS Markit) and chemistry-specialized B2B platforms (ChemBuyersGuide, Chemelo). Through KOTRA's chemistry industry-specialized buyer matching services and the Korea Chemical Industry Association's (KoChIA) overseas export support network, reliable local importers and end-use companies can be found. Participating in sector-specialized trade shows such as ACHEMA (Germany), CPhI Worldwide (pharmaceutical chemicals), and China International Chemical Industry Fair (CCCF) is the most efficient method for direct meetings with global buyers in the chemical industry. For participating in the global supply chains of semiconductor, battery, and automotive industries, strategies for overseas demand connection through major corporations' partner networks (Samsung, SK, LG, etc.) are also effective, and some major corporations introduce overseas clients with chemical material supply cooperation opportunities to their partners.

Pricing Strategy and Payment Terms

Export prices for chemical products are often linked to international crude oil and naphtha prices, and including a feedstock escalation clause (price adjustment mechanism reflecting raw material price fluctuations) in contracts when signing agreements effectively manages cost variation risk. For bulk chemicals (basic petrochemicals), prices are determined based on international market prices (Platts, ICIS market conditions), so grasping market information is key to price negotiations, while specialty and fine chemicals can pursue premium price strategies based on technological differentiation. For large-scale long-term supply contracts, contract structures that secure stable volume and improve revenue predictability through Take-or-Pay clauses and minimum purchase quantity guarantees are common. For payment terms, L/C (letter of credit) or T/T (telegraphic transfer) 100% prepayment is the principle for new trading partners, and it is desirable to negotiate D/P or O/A (60–90 days) conditions for long-term trading partners with verified credit to improve competitiveness.

Marketing and Technical Sales Strategy

B2B marketing for chemical products is centered on technical data sheets (TDS), safety data sheets (SDS), application notes, and sample provision as core technical sales. A dual-channel sales strategy that simultaneously targets potential buyers' R&D teams and purchasing teams is particularly effective in the chemical industry, and custom technical seminars and product demonstrations contribute to trust building. Advertising in chemistry-specialized academic journals, contributing to industry association publications, and utilizing LinkedIn professional networks are effective channels for raising awareness among global potential customers. For specialty and functional chemicals, proposing Joint Development Agreements to build technical partnerships with customers can develop into far more powerful long-term exclusive supply relationships than short-term delivery contracts.

Logistics and Hazardous Materials Transport

Chemical product logistics require special transport conditions based on the product's hazard classification (UN hazard class), so the hazardous materials classification and packaging requirements of the substance must be confirmed in advance. Flammable, toxic, and corrosive chemicals require the use of UN packaging-certified containers and mandatory attachment of Dangerous Goods Declarations in accordance with IMDG Code (maritime hazardous materials) or IATA DGR (aviation hazardous materials) regulations. Using international chemical transport-specialized forwarders (e.g., Kuehne+Nagel Chemicals, Univar Solutions Logistics) enables systematic management of complex hazardous materials transport documentation and regulatory compliance. Chemical substance storage warehouses must meet hazardous materials storage permits (Hazardous Materials Safety Management Act) and local hazardous materials storage standards in export countries (e.g., OSHA, ATEX), and using local bonded warehouses or specialized chemical storage companies is practical. For large-scale chemical exports, cargo insurance combined with active consideration of K-SURE's environmental pollution special clause export insurance enrollment is strongly recommended.

Key Trade Shows and Global Networking

Global chemical industry trade shows are the most efficient platforms for technology exchange, buyer sourcing, and new product introduction. KOTRA and the Korea Chemical Industry Association (KoChIA) provide Korea Pavilion operations and participation fee support services at major international chemical trade shows, so establishing annual participation plans in advance and submitting support applications is important. When participating in trade shows, strategies that combine technical seminar presentations, pre-arranged buyer meeting schedules, and on-site sample distributions—rather than simple product displays—are effective for achieving substantive trading results. Participating in international academic conferences in chemical engineering and applied chemistry fields through the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) also provides useful networking opportunities for finding technology partnerships with research institutes and universities and pioneering new application areas.

Buyer Types

Essential Certifications

Key Trade Shows

Frequently Asked Questions