South Korea to impose anti-dumping tariffs on Chinese butyl acrylate for 5 years

South Korea will impose anti-dumping tariffs of up to 19.17 percent on Chinese butyl acrylate imports for the next five years, in a move aimed at protecting domestic producers from low-price dumping and restoring fair market competition.

The Ministry of Economy and Finance said Tuesday it had made a final decision to levy anti-dumping duties on Chinese butyl acrylate (HSK 2916.12.3000). The tariffs will run from Sept. 28, 2026, through Sept. 27, 2031, with rates ranging from 8.32 percent to 19.17 percent depending on the supplier.

The decision follows an investigation launched last September by the Korea Trade Commission under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, after LG Chem filed an anti-dumping petition. The probe confirmed that Chinese products had been imported at dumped prices and that domestic industry had suffered material injury as a result.

The final anti-dumping duty rates by supplier are: Taixing Sunke Chemicals and its affiliates at 11.42 percent, Shanghai Huayi New Material and its affiliates at 8.32 percent, Pinghu Petro Chemical and its affiliates at 19.17 percent, and all other suppliers at 18.69 percent.

Butyl acrylate is an organic compound used as a raw material in adhesives and specialty plastics. The domestic market was valued at around 100 billion won ($72.8 million) as of 2024, with Chinese products accounting for roughly 47 percent of market share.

The government plans to publish the measure as a draft ministerial ordinance from Tuesday through Sept. 16, before the tariffs take full effect on Sept. 28.

"We expect this measure to relieve the damage suffered by domestic industries from low-price dumping imports and to correct market distortions caused by unfair pricing," a government official said.