How do I export plastic products?

Major Export Markets

China is the world's largest plastics consumer with high industrial and packaging demand, and is the largest export destination for Korean petrochemical products. The US has large demand for high-quality engineering plastics, and duty-free benefits are available through the Korea-US FTA. The EU has strict environmental regulations and demand for recycled and bio-plastics is rapidly increasing, and REACH regulation compliance is mandatory. Southeast Asia is seeing expanding raw material and finished product demand alongside manufacturing growth, while the Middle East generates demand for pipes, window frames, and other products in construction and infrastructure projects. Compliance with market-specific environmental regulations (EU REACH, US EPA, China GB standards) is a prerequisite for exports.

Essential Certifications and Regulations

Environmental and safety regulations include EU REACH (mandatory registration for chemicals at 1 ton or more per year), RoHS (restriction of hazardous substances in electronic products), and FDA approval (US food contact plastics). Quality certifications required include ISO 9001 (quality management system), ISO 14001 (environmental management system), and UL certification (US safety certification for electrical/electronic components). Eco-friendly certifications include OK Compost (biodegradability certification), DIN CERTCO (bioplastics certification), and national recycling marks, with importance rapidly increasing alongside ESG trends. For food-contact plastics, meeting FDA or EU FCM (Food Contact Materials) regulations is mandatory, and migration/transfer tests must be passed.

Export Procedures and Customs Clearance

Plastic raw materials fall under HS Code Chapter 39 (plastics and articles thereof), with rubber products under Chapter 40, and tariff rates differ by specific item. When utilizing the Korea-US FTA, most plastic products qualify for duty-free treatment, and the Korea-EU FTA provides similar benefits. For raw material exports, SDS (Safety Data Sheet) and test certificates must be attached, and hazardous materials must comply with IMDG (maritime) or IATA DGR (aviation) regulations. For China exports, CCC certification (electrical/electronic related) and GB standard conformity confirmation may be required, and customs clearance proceeds under the importer's name.

Buyer Sourcing Strategy

K Fair (Germany, every 3 years) is the world's largest plastics/rubber trade show and provides the best opportunity to meet global buyers, while Chinaplas (China, annual) is the largest trade show in Asia. Online export consultations through KOTRA trade centers and the buyKOREA platform are also effective, and industry-specific specialized trade consultation meetings (hosted by the Korea Petrochemical Industry Association, etc.) can also be utilized. Direct buyer outreach through B2B platforms (Alibaba, Global Sources) and LinkedIn is also effective, and securing new buyers through referrals from existing trading partners is common.

Pricing Strategy and Payment Terms

Plastic raw material prices are linked to international crude oil and naphtha prices, so managing price volatility is important. Quotes are presented on FOB or CIF price basis, and volume discounts are applied for large transactions. L/C (letter of credit) is common for payment terms in initial transactions, and once trust is established, transition to T/T 30–60 days occurs. Minimum order quantity (MOQ) is 20 tons (1 FCL) or more for raw materials, and flexible depending on buyer requirements for finished products, and securing stable transactions through regular order contracts (annual contracts) is common.

Buyer Types

Packaging companies produce food, beverage, cosmetics (K-Beauty related), and pharmaceutical packaging and require stable raw material supply. Manufacturers (B2B) include automotive parts companies (lightweight components), electronics manufacturers (housings, connectors), and construction companies (pipes, window frames). Distribution and trading companies include raw material trading companies, plastics-specialized importers, and recycled plastics buyers. Recently, bio-plastics specialized buyers and eco-friendly packaging startups are emerging as new markets.

Logistics and Packaging

Plastic raw materials (pellets) are packaged in 25 kg bags or 1-ton bulk bags (FIBC), and moisture-prevention desiccants are essential when loading containers. Finished products require packaging appropriate to the product characteristics, with bubble wrap and corrugated cardboard boxes as the basics for damage prevention. Sea transport is standard, with transit times of 3–5 days to China, 7–14 days to Southeast Asia, 15–20 days to the US, and 25–30 days to the EU. Plasticizers, additives, and other hazardous materials require separate packaging and documentation under the IMDG Code, and transport through specialized forwarders is recommended.

Key Trade Shows and Networking

K Fair (Düsseldorf, Germany, October, every 3 years) is the world's largest plastics/rubber trade show with approximately 3,000 participating companies and visited by buyers from around the world. Chinaplas (China, April) is the largest plastics trade show in Asia, held alternately in Shanghai and Guangzhou. NPE (US, May, every 3 years) is North America's largest plastics trade show, and there are also regional shows including Plastimagen (Mexico), Arabplast (UAE), and Plastindia (India). Domestically, KOPLAS (Goyang, Korea, March) is representative, and networking through the Korea Petrochemical Industry Association is also possible.

Buyer Types

Essential Certifications

Key Trade Shows

Frequently Asked Questions