Engel initiates 10+ eu anti-dumping complaints seeking trade protection for pvc, abs, polyolefins and other products

Key Points

The European chemical industry is facing a situation where imported product prices are lower than those of local manufacturers who have to pay higher energy costs and carbon taxes.

Ineos is currently safeguarding strategic products such as PVC, MEG, BDO, PTA, and ABS, with related production distributed across 15 sites, involving 5,000 jobs.

The company urges the European Commission to strengthen trade defenses and provide necessary resources before the end of the year.

The European Commission's proposed 3.7% tariff is insufficient to address the 67% profit loss caused by the influx of low-priced dumped imports into the European market.

On November 12, Zhuangsu Shijie learned that INEOS has officially submitted or is in the process of submitting 10 significant anti-dumping cases to the European Commission. The company stated that this move aims to protect its production bases, employees, and long-term investments, while also safeguarding the thousands of customers, suppliers, and contractors that rely on a strong European chemical industry.

An anti-dumping duty is a tariff imposed on imported goods that are sold at prices below fair market value, in order to protect domestic industries.

The company added in a statement that the European chemical industry is being inundated by a flood of low-cost imports from Asia, the Middle East, and the United States. These products have driven down prices for European producers, who are facing the highest energy prices globally and rising carbon costs.

An INEOS spokesperson said, "This involves not only plastic products but also a variety of strategic chemicals that are indispensable in the supply chain."

A spokesperson revealed to PlasticsToday that multiple European manufacturers and customer groups are preparing or advancing trade cases for adjacent value chains.

"This is not a unilateral action by INEOS," the spokesperson said. "As unfairly imported products impact the entire value chain, INEOS is also supporting customers through more anti-dumping applications, such as the complaint regarding PET."

Surge in Imports and Pricing Issues

According to data from the European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC), imports of Chinese chemical products to Europe surged by 8.3% in the first half of 2024, with a large influx of carbon-intensive products entering the European market. The energy costs of these products are only a small fraction of those in Europe, and they do not incur any carbon pricing at all. The association pointed out that the latest EU-US trade agreement announced in July 2025 will exacerbate trade imbalances, as Europe will abandon its remaining protective measures against dumping products.

The spokesperson stated that the 10 cases by INEOS aim to protect strategic products, including polyvinyl chloride (PVC), monoethylene glycol (MEG), 1,4-butanediol (BDO), purified terephthalic acid (PTA), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer (ABS), polyethylene glycol, butyl acetate, and polyolefins. These products are the pillars of the European automotive, defense, electronics, construction, packaging, and pharmaceutical industries.

INEOS added that these materials are produced at the company's 15 production sites, supporting over 5,000 technical jobs. The company stated that these materials are crucial for medical equipment, pharmaceuticals, housing, transportation, and infrastructure. INEOS believes that without these materials, Europe's manufacturing base would come to a standstill.

An INEOS spokesperson stated that the company believes the European plastics and chemical manufacturing industries may require significant structural changes or policy reforms to restore long-term competitiveness, particularly in terms of energy costs and carbon pricing mechanisms.

Moreover, an INEOS spokesperson added that the improvement of energy and natural gas pricing mechanisms across Europe will benefit businesses.

"European natural gas prices are three to four times those of the United States or China," the spokesperson said. "Removing carbon costs and providing tariff protection would be beneficial for the region."

Value chain impact spread

INEOS stated that it is supporting its customers through more anti-dumping applications, such as for PET. This is because unfairly imported products not only impact chemical producers but also affect the entire value chain from raw materials to packaging, food, and consumer goods. The company pointed out that many European manufacturers are now forced to seek trade protection for downstream products in the supply chain to survive.

Ineos stated that amidst the surge in the number of anti-dumping and trade defense investigation cases handled in Brussels, numerous industries are striving to keep production in Europe. Ineos indicated that the European Commission is understaffed in handling these cases and responds slowly, highlighting the scale of trade challenges faced by European manufacturers.

Industry Leaders Issue Warning

Steve Harrington, CEO of Ineos Styrolution, stated that this is industrial self-harm.

"Both the United States and China are protecting their domestic industries, while Europe allows unfair imports of ABS from South Korea and Taiwan," he said. "This threatens six ABS factories and 1,000 jobs in Europe. According to the European Commission's own data, the extent of the damage is as high as 67%, but Brussels is only proposing a 3.7% anti-dumping duty, which is completely ineffective. Unless Europe takes decisive action, we are finished."

The company stated that, according to a recent analysis by the European Commission, the profit loss suffered by European ABS manufacturers due to unfair pricing of imported products amounts to two-thirds (67%) of their normal profitability. In contrast, Brussels has only proposed an anti-dumping duty of 3.7% — a level that was supposed to restore fair competition.

For ABS products, the company stated that the tariff is far from sufficient to offset 67% of the damage. INEOS claims that this allows foreign suppliers to continue selling products at low prices that European manufacturers cannot compete with. A spokesperson said the European Commission recognizes the severity of the damage but refuses to take effective remedial measures.

An executive from INEOS stated that chemical manufacturers are being forced to shut down factories because they face energy costs that are three to four times higher than those in Asia or the United States, while also bearing the uniquely European rising carbon costs. The company indicated that this allows foreign competitors to freely dump high-emission products into the EU market.

"1,4-Butanediol (BDO) is crucial for pharmaceuticals and medical equipment, but Europe allows its production to be destroyed by unfair trade," warned Andrew Brown, CEO of Ineos Enterprises. "This is not resilience—it's recklessness."

Call for decisive action

INEOS calls on the European Commission to strengthen trade defense by the end of the year and provide the necessary resources to take decisive action to prevent deindustrialization in Europe.

"Europe talks about autonomy, resilience, and the Green Deal," said Tom Crotty, Director of INEOS Group, "but shows weakness in the face of blatant product dumping. Factories are closing, high-carbon imported products are surging, yet politicians remain indifferent. Unless Europe wakes up quickly, it will lose not only the chemical industry but also the foundation of the entire manufacturing sector."

Ineos is also working with downstream customers, especially those in the automotive, packaging, and medical equipment manufacturing industries, to ensure supply continuity during the anti-dumping investigation.

"Our goal is clear: stable supply, fair prices, and a level playing field for European manufacturing," the spokesperson concluded, "We are committed to working with customers to defend European manufacturing."