India reviews antidumping duties on TDI imports from China, Japan, South Korea

India's Directorate General of Trade Remedies has launched a sunset review of the existing antidumping duties on imports of toluene di-isocyanate from China, Japan and South Korea.

The review was initiated on Sept. 30, according to a notification from the DGTR. The investigation will assess whether lifting the current trade measures could result in the continuation or recurrence of dumping and injury to India's domestic industry, the DGTR's TDI sunset review initiation notification said.

India initiated its original antidumping investigation into imports from the subject countries in October 2016, resulting in provisional duties in June 2017 and final duties in January 2018 for a period of five years. A first sunset review in 2021 recommended continuation of the duties, which were extended in September 2022 and remain in force until Sept. 20, 2027, unless revoked earlier.

Interested parties have 37 days from the date of the initiation notification to submit responses and relevant information to the authority. A separate 15-day period applies for comments on the scope of the product under consideration and the proposed product-control-number methodology; that period runs concurrently with the response deadline.

TDI is primarily used to manufacture polyurethane products, including flexible foam for furniture and mattresses. It also has applications in automotive components, footwear, construction materials and coatings.

The DGTR's review does not itself represent a final decision on whether the duties will be continued, modified or allowed to expire. Any recommendation will follow the authority's examination of submissions from domestic producers, importers, exporters, and other interested parties, according to the notification.

Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, assessed CFR India toluene diisocyanate up $60/metric ton week over week at $2,965/mt Oct. 1, below a lowest offer heard at $3,020/mt, as well as below a lowest selling indication heard at $2,970/mt, including antidumping duties, amid firmer market fundamentals.