HOUSTON (ICIS)–The US International Trade Commission (ITC) has determined that there is “reasonable indication” that the US polyethylene terephthalate (PET) market is harmed by resin imports from five countries being sold at less than fair value, according to information obtained by ICIS on Thursday.
The decision means the US Department of Commerce will continue its antidumping investigation regarding imports from Brazil, Indonesia, Korea, Pakistan and Taiwan. Preliminary determinations from the Commerce Department are expected on 5 March 2018 with final determinations to follow on 21 May.
US PET resin producers DAK Americas, Indorama Ventures, M&G Polymers and Nan Ya Plastics filed petitions on 26 September with the Commerce Department and the ITC, seeking antidumping duties to be imposed on resin imports from the five countries. Indorama is not a petitioner in the Indonesia investigation.
Import volumes from these countries rose by more than 305% from 2014 to 2016, according to the petitions, and continued to increase in the first half of this year.
Major producers of US PET are Indorama, DAK, Nan Ya and Mossi & Ghisolfi.