Benzene, Toluene & Xylenes (BTX)

Benzene, nitration-grade toluene, mixed xylenes and paraxylene

BTX is four trades on one aromatics unit. Benzene (HS 2902.20) goes into styrene, cumene and phenol, cyclohexane and nylon, and is sold as refined benzene to ASTM D2359. Toluene (HS 2902.30) is sold as nitration grade to ASTM D841, which tests non-aromatic hydrocarbons, acid wash colour, copper strip corrosion, appearance, platinum-cobalt colour and distillation range, and as commercial or solvent grade for paints, inks, adhesives and thinners. Mixed xylenes (HS 2902.44) are the solvent and paraxylene-feedstock stream, and ASTM D5211 covers xylenes for paraxylene feedstock on minimum paraxylene, maximum ethylbenzene, toluene, C9 aromatics, non-aromatics, sulphur, colour and distillation range. Paraxylene (HS 2902.43) is the high-purity isomer that becomes PTA and polyester. All are UN Class 3 flammable liquids: benzene UN 1114, toluene UN 1294, xylenes UN 1307. UN Comtrade 2024 export declarations: HS 2902.20 benzene about USD 9.83 billion, led by Korea USD 3.01 billion and 3.03 million MT, India USD 1.46 billion, the Netherlands USD 1.14 billion and 1.08 million MT, Japan USD 529 million and Singapore USD 241 million; HS 2902.30 toluene about USD 2.67 billion, led by Korea USD 531 million, Japan USD 285 million and the USA USD 102 million; HS 2902.43 paraxylene about USD 13.06 billion, led by Korea USD 4.67 billion, Japan USD 2.03 billion and 2.16 million MT, Taiwan USD 1.33 billion, Singapore USD 1.05 billion, the USA USD 796 million and India USD 230 million; HS 2902.44 mixed xylene isomers about USD 0.33 billion.

The buyers are different for each product. Styrene, phenol and nylon plants take benzene in chemical-tanker parcels; chemical synthesis users take nitration toluene; paint, ink, adhesive and thinner producers take toluene and mixed xylenes in ISO tanks and drums; PTA plants take paraxylene by the ship. Bulk parcels move in chemical tankers built to the IBC Code, with the ship type and pollution category of each product per chapter 17 on the tanker's certificate of fitness. Asian paraxylene settles a monthly Asian contract price and is assessed daily by ICIS and Platts CFR Taiwan and China; benzene and toluene trade on ICIS, Platts and Argus assessments FOB Korea, CIF Rotterdam and US Gulf. Toluene is a Table II precursor under the 1988 UN Convention, so destination import documentation is completed before loading. CBIL is a commodity brokerage company and brokers BTX from Korean, Japanese, US, Singaporean, Indian and Dutch producers' offtake and trader parcels, against certificates of analysis, SGS or Intertek inspection at load, safety data sheets, certificates of origin and REACH registration confirmation for EU imports. Send the product, grade and standard, volume, delivery form and port.

Excluded origins are not offered, including product re-exported, blended or re-processed through a third country. Every lot moves with a certificate of origin naming the producing plant, mine or grower country, and nothing is quoted before the seller and loading point are known.