India proposes anti-dumping duties on ESBR imports

New Delhi – India’s Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) has concluded its probe into the imports of emulsion styrene butadiene rubber (E-SBR) 1500 series from the EU, Japan, South Korea, Russia and Thailand, noting “significant” dumping and injury to the domestic industry.

In its final findings 20 March, the Indian authority recommended five-year anti-dumping duties for the imports, stating that the product “has been exported to India at a price below the normal value, resulting in dumping.”

The dumping margin, it said, is above “de-minimis level and significant.”

The investigation follows a petition filed by Reliance Industries and supported by Indian Synthetic Rubber Pvt Ltd last March.

The period of investigation was 1 Oct 2023 to 30 Sep 2024; and the injury period covered the years 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24 and the period of investigation.

The probe, said DGTR, has found that imports increased “in absolute terms as well as relative terms,” while “price undercutting is positive and significant.”

It added that imports “have suppressed the prices of the domestic industry,” noting that profitability declined during the period of investigation, with “cash profit" down by 51%.

On the effect of the duties further downstream, DGTR said that the product “does not form a critical part of the cost of operations of the tire industry.”

Therefore, it said, the impact of anti-dumping duty would be “minuscule,” with “no correlation between trade remedial measures and performance of the tire industry.”

The authority said anti-dumping measures are “necessary to safeguard domestic industry, ensuring fair competition while balancing consumer and public interest.”

DGTR’s recommended duties are as follows: