EU PVC anti-dumping duties to be applied retroactively

: Chemicals, Petrochemicals
26/10/26

The European Commission has announced that any potential anti-dumping duties (ADDs) applied to imports of suspension PVC (s-PVC) from China, South Korea, Taiwan and Mexico, will be applied retroactively on imports arriving from 23 October 2026.

The commission began an ADD investigation on the imports in September. At the time, the commission said pre-disclosure of any provisional measures is likely on 23 April 2027, while definitive measures are expected to be disclosed on 20 November 2027.

Imports arriving within 90 days prior to the disclosure of provisional measures would be subject to ADDs.

The move came after lobbying from European PVC producers in recent months. The investigation of dumping and injury will cover the period of 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026. Eurostat data show PVC imports from the countries under investigation totalled 593,715t during that period.

One trader told Argus today that they were cancelling imports from Asia this week, noting that the "risk was too big" as the date for provisional measures announcement could be moved forwards and long lead times may mean they are subject to unknown anti-dumping duties.

The commission added that in the initial complaint complainants estimated dumping margins of between 84-273pc, 21-61pc, 65pc and 13-39pc for China, Korea, Mexico and Taiwan respectfully. Injury elimination levels for the aforementioned countries were at 68pc, 53pc, 55pc and 56pc respectively.

The commission said on 23 October that the amount for "possible future liability would normally be set at the lower of the dumping or injury level" although it added that the EU cannot create any expectations as to the "actual level of the liability" before the results of the investigation.

Argus assessed the PVC import price on a cif Europe basis between €850-890/t last week.

By George Barsted

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