MOSCOW (MRC) -- The anti-dumping investigation against primary high-density polyethylene (low-density polyethylene, HDPE) imported from Uzbekistan to the territory of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) has been extended until October 26, 2021, the EEC said.
The investigation was initiated by the companies of the TAIF group - Nizhnekamskneftekhim and Kazanorgsintez in July 2020.
The EEC documents say that according to the applicants, in 2019, primary high-density polyethylene was supplied from Uzbekistan to the territory of the EAEU at prices below the normal cost in the domestic market of the republic.
The dumping margin for HDPE supplies amounted to 29.2%. The delivery price also exceeded the weighted average prices for HDPE produced on the territory of the EAEU, Interfax reports.
The initiators of the investigation also noted that from 2016 to 2019, the rate of imports of HDPE from Uzbekistan exceeded the growth rate of demand for these products in the EAEU market. The growth of imports from Uzbekistan, combined with dumping, led to containment of the rise in HDPE prices in the EAEU from 2016 to 2018 and to a decrease in prices for it in the Union market in 2019 relative to 2018. This led to a deterioration in the production and financial and economic indicators of the industry, Russian companies noted.
According to the applicants, there is a threat of further growth in dumping supplies "due to the significant volume of production capacity" for the production of HDPE in Uzbekistan.
The production of HDPE in Uzbekistan is carried out by the Uz-Kor Gas Chemical JV (Ustyurt Gas Chemical Complex, UGCC), which produces HDPE under a license from LOTTE Chemical (Korea) and the Shurtan Gas Chemical Complex (ShGKhK, SGCC).
According to the ICIS-MRC Price Report, the supply of polyethylene increased in Uzbekistan at domestic auctions last week. At the same time, the main increase fell on LPNP С4, and there was no offer of pipe HDPE at the auction. Buying activity during the week was at a good level, while some types of PE fell in price.
Uz-Kor Gas Chemical was commissioned in 2016 and has production capacity for the production of ethylene 400 thousand tons per year, HDPE 387 thousand tons per year, propylene and polypropylene (PP) 83 thousand tons per year. Shurtan GCC has a production capacity for the production of HDPE and LLDPE in the amount of 125 thousand tons per year.
MRC