Brazil reduces PE, PP, PVC import tariffs until December 2022

The Brazilian government has decided to temporarily reduce polyethylene, polypropylene and PVC import tariffs to 12.6% from 14%, valid from Nov. 11 until December 2022, the Ministry of Economy said Nov. 9.

"The ad valorem rates of the Import Tax referred to in Resolution 125 of the Foreign Trade Chamber, of December 15, 2016, will be temporarily and exceptionally reduced until December 31, 2022," the ministry said in the official gazette.

The decreases in tariffs considered all high-density polyethylene grades under the HS code 3901.2029; low-density polyethylene under the HS code 3901.1092; linear low-density polyethylene under the HS codes 3901.4000, 3901.1010, 3901.9090.

For polypropylene homopolymer, products under the HS code 3902.1020 were considered, and for copolymer products, under the HS code 3902.3000. All grades of PVC were considered.

All PE, PP and PVC products faced a 14% ad valorem tariff, while now the tax was reduced to 12.6%.

On March 30, the government had decided to reduce polypropylene import tariffs from 14% to zero valid for three months and had a 77,000 mt cap for polypropylene homopolymer imports, which sold out very quickly at that time.

Brazil also has a current anti-dumping measure on polypropylene homopolymer and copolymer against South Africa (4.6% to 16%) and India (6.4% to 9.9%), valid until December 2025; and had a definitive anti-dumping against both grades of PP from the US, at ad valorem 10.6%, valid until Nov. 1, 2021.

For PVC, Brazil had a definitive anti-dumping measure ad valorem of 16% to the US and 18% to Mexico, for HS code 3904.1010, valid until the end of September 2021, which the government gave no updates up to date. A definitive anti-dumping measure of 21.6% on PVC from China and South Korea is currently valid until December 2025.

Brazil does not have any anti-dumping measures on polyethylene products.