division | Main contents | Basis and Source |
|---|---|---|
| Global Chemical Market | Petrochemical oversupply → Weak prices for some products | Bloomberg Chemicals 2025.8 |
| Korean industrial structure | Coexistence of export-oriented petrochemicals (ethylene and paraxylene) and imported precision chemicals | Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy 2025 |
| High value-added trend | Increase in imports of organic compounds for pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and batteries | KITA Trade Report |
| environmental regulations | Introduction of REACH and CBAM → Increased demand for ESG-type, eco-friendly raw materials | EU Chemical Watch 2025 |
Korea's imports of organic chemical products are shifting to focus on high-value-added fine chemical and bio-based raw materials , while China still accounts for a large portion of low-priced, mass-produced products.
item | Details | Data source |
|---|---|---|
| HS code | 29 (Organic Chemicals) | UN Comtrade |
| Main detailed items | 2902 (hydrocarbons), 2905 (alcohols), 2909 (ethers), 2915 (carboxylic acids), 2922 (nitrogen oxides) | Customs Service Trade Statistics |
| Import volume in 2024 | Approximately USD 32.4 billion (4.7% of total imports) | KCS, OEC 2025 |
| Average annual growth rate ('20–'24) | +4.4% | Industrial Yearbook |
| Major demand sources | Pharmaceutical, pesticide, plastic, cosmetics, and battery electrolyte industries |
HS29 is a core product group of the precision chemical industry , and imports of high-purity organic compounds and functional additives are increasing.
ranking | importing country | specific gravity(%) | Main items | Features and Risks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | china | 34 | Basic organic solvents and hydrocarbons | High unit price competitiveness, environmental risk |
| 2 | japan | 18 | Fine chemical intermediates | High-purity raw materials for semiconductors and pharmaceuticals |
| 3 | USA | 17 | Advanced chemicals and battery electrolytes | High dependence on technology |
| 4 | germany | 11 | Pharmaceutical and cosmetic raw materials | Excellent quality stability |
| 5 | India | 6 | Pesticide and dye raw materials | Low supply risk |
The top five countries account for 86% of imports , and the three major supply axes of China, Japan, and the United States dominate the entire market.
division | 2023 Q3 | 2024 Q3 | Increase/decrease (%) | note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic organic compounds (tons) | 4,550,000 | 4,680,000 | +2.9 | Petrochemicals and solvents |
| Fine chemical intermediates | 820,000 | 870,000 | +6.1 | For pharmaceutical and battery use |
| Cosmetics and pharmaceutical raw materials | 420,000 | 460,000 | +9.5 | Increase in import share |
| Pesticide and dye raw materials | 290,000 | 295,000 | +1.7 | seasonal demand |
| total | — | — | +4.3 | stable increase |
There is a clear increase in imports, particularly in high value-added chemical materials (pharmaceuticals and batteries) .
Item | 2024 Q1 | 2024 Q2 | 2024 Q3 | change(%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ethylene glycol (USD/ton) | 965 | 980 | 995 | +1.5 |
| IPA (isopropyl alcohol) | 1,220 | 1,260 | 1,280 | +1.6 |
| acetone | 905 | 910 | 935 | +2.7 |
| lithium electrolyte additive | 22,800 | 23,500 | 24,200 | +3.0 |
While the unit price of chemical products is stable, the price of high-purity additives for batteries continues to rise .
branch | characteristic | Import Volatility Index (0–1) |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | stock replenishment machine | 0.44 |
| Q2 | Manufacturing operating rate rising period | 0.63 |
| Q3 | Pharmaceutical and Cosmetics Season, Peak Imports | 0.75 |
| Q4 | Year-end inventory adjustment period | 0.56 |
The concentration of imports in Q2-Q3 is due to increased demand from pharmaceutical and cosmetic manufacturers and battery materials.
item | detail |
|---|---|
| Tariff rate | Basic 3-8%, mostly duty-free when FTA is applied |
| Non-tariff | REACH (Registration of Chemical Substances), K-REACH, Strengthening Environmental and Safety Regulations |
| Domestic alternative industries | 58% domestic production rate of precision chemicals and biomaterials |
| Future tasks | Accelerating ESG certification and the transition to eco-friendly raw materials, and achieving self-sufficiency in organic pharmaceutical intermediates. |
With the strengthening of environmental regulations, the development of bio-based organic compounds and low-carbon solvents is a key direction for domestic R&D.
characteristic | evaluation | analysis |
|---|---|---|
| Carbon emissions impact | middle | Carbon concentration in the refining and synthesis process |
| ESG Risk | Medium to high | Differences in China's supply chain environmental standards |
| Net Zero Contribution | Medium to high | Positive effects when converting to biochemical and recycling processes |
Eco-friendly organic chemical conversion technology (Bio-based Chemicals) is expected to play a key role in carbon reduction and import stability in the future.
importing country | Policy/Environmental Risk (0–1) | Logistics Risk (0–1) | Comprehensive Trust Index |
|---|---|---|---|
| china | 0.45 | 0.32 | 0.64 |
| japan | 0.24 | 0.25 | 0.81 |
| USA | 0.21 | 0.28 | 0.82 |
| germany | 0.25 | 0.27 | 0.79 |
| India | 0.31 | 0.36 | 0.71 |
Average Trust Index = 0.75 (Good)
The supply chain is stable, centered around advanced countries, and is gradually reducing dependence on low-priced Chinese goods.
industry | Major companies | Imported items | note |
|---|---|---|---|
| petrochemicals | Lotte Chemical, LG Chemical | hydrocarbons, alcohols | mass consumption |
| Pharmaceuticals and cosmetics | Hanmi Pharmaceutical, Amorepacific | Precision intermediates, functional additives | High purity imports |
| Battery materials | LG Energy Solution, POSCO Future M | Electrolytes and additives | Focus on high-priced materials |
| pesticides and dyes | Farm Hannong, Aekyung Chemical | Amine, dye raw material | seasonal fluctuations |
Demand is dispersed across industries, and the share of imports for high-value-added precision chemicals and battery materials has surged to over 45%.
characteristic | Currently (2025 Q3) | Compared to the previous quarter (Δ%) | analysis |
|---|---|---|---|
| ΔImport | +3.9% | ▲1.3 | Increase in focus on precision chemicals and battery materials |
| ΔPrice | +2.4% | ▲0.7 | High-purity additive price increase |
| ΔCountryShare | +0.6% | ▲0.3 | Expanding the US and Japan's share |
| Trust Index | 0.75 | = | Supply chain stability |
| Forecast (3M) | +4.5% | ▲ | Demand for biochemicals continues to grow |
Summary: HS29 imports are showing a gradual upward trend.
Imports are expanding, focusing on high-value-added fine chemical products, and reliance on low-priced Chinese products is easing.
division | Suggestion | Expected effect |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Strengthening support for the development of bio-based chemical materials | ESG and carbon neutrality response |
| 2 | Establishing a domestic production cluster for pharmaceutical and cosmetic raw materials | Self-sufficient high-purity intermediates |
| 3 | Promoting the K-REACH Global Mutual Recognition Agreement | Simplified import procedures |
| 4 | Improving Inventory and Procurement Efficiency with AI Trade Forecasting Models | Cost reduction |
| 5 | Strengthening import management of high-risk chemicals | Ensuring environmental safety |
HS29 (Organic Chemicals) Imports Trade Index – 2025 Q3
ΔImport +3.9% , ΔPrice +2.4% , Trust 0.75 , Forecast (3M) +4.5%
→ Outlook: Gentle increase (Positive-Neutral).
Steady growth is underway, driven by fine chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and battery materials, and
the transition to ESG and bio-based organic chemistry is considered a key competitive edge going forward.
