UK opens anti-dumping probe into US LLDPE imports after Ineos complaint

B910化工消息：July 3 - The UK Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) has officially launched an anti-dumping investigation into linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) imports from the United States, initiated following a complaint by UK domestic producer Ineos. Ineos alleged in its complaint that US LLDPE is entering the UK market at prices below normal value, causing material injury to domestic producers. The TRA investigation will assess whether US LLDPE is being dumped and whether such dumping is causing or threatening material injury to the UK domestic industry. The background to this anti-dumping investigation is profound changes in global polyethylene capacity patterns. Benefiting from low-cost ethane feedstock brought by the shale gas revolution, the United States has massively expanded polyethylene capacity over the past decade, with significant LLDPE exports flowing to European and UK markets. As the UK independent trade policy framework post-Brexit gradually takes shape, UK domestic chemical companies are beginning to use anti-dumping tools to protect domestic industry. Market analysts noted that if the UK ultimately imposes anti-dumping duties on US LLDPE, some US exports originally destined for the UK may redirect to the EU market, exacerbating LLDPE oversupply pressure in the EU region. The current European polyethylene market already faces dual pressures of weak demand and import competition, and additional supply inflows could further depress prices and margins. Furthermore, this investigation also reflects the continuation of global chemical trade protectionism trends. As major economies including the US and EU strengthen trade remedy measures, the UK as an independent trade policy entity is also actively utilizing related tools. For Ineos, successfully obtaining anti-dumping duty protection would help maintain reasonable operating rates and profitability at its UK LLDPE facilities. The investigation is expected to last several months, during which interested parties can submit evidence and opinions. （来源：Plasteurope）