On September 18, 2026, ITAC published notice of the initiation of an investigation into the alleged dumping of virgin PET, classifiable under tariff subheading 3907.6, originating in or imported from China, Egypt and Oman – produced by the Jiangsu Sanfangxiang group of companies (the JS Group) comprising Jiangyin Xingyu New Material, Jiangyin Xingtai New Material and Jiangsu Xingye Plastic. Comment is due by October 26, 2026.
ITAC accepted an application alleging that this PET is being dumped in the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) market with material injury and/or threatening to cause material injury to the industry in the SACU.
The application was lodged by Safripol, a major producer of virgin PET in the SACU, representing a major share of the SACU’s total production of PET.
Safripol submitted sufficient evidence and established a prima facie case enabling ITAC to conclude that it should initiate an investigation based on dumping, material injury, threat of material injury and causality.
The dumping allegation is based on a comparison of normal values and export prices. ITAC required determination of normal values, based on export prices to other countries for Egypt and Oman and domestic market prices for China, of the product produced by the JS Group.
ITAC considered that the JS Group was excluded from the imposition of anti-dumping duties in the original investigation because its margin of dumping was found to be de minimis in accordance with Article 5.8 of the WTO.
In terms of the anti-dumping agreement (ADA), the investigation was terminated and the JS Group was not subject to subsequent sunset review. ITAC further considered that the JS Group’s de minimis margin of dumping in the original investigation does not preclude it being subject to a subsequent new anti-dumping investigation, provided that such investigation is based on new facts and a new period of investigation (POI) and that the applicable requirements for initiation under the ADA and the ITAC Anti-Dumping Regulations (ADR) are satisfied.
ITAC determined that export prices from China for the JS Group, Egypt and Oman should be based on official import statistics from SARS.
On this basis, ITAC found there was prima facie proof of dumping of the product originating in or imported from China by the JS Group, Egypt and Oman, and committed to cumulatively assessing the impact of imports from these suppliers.
Safripol submitted prima facie evidence to show price undercutting, price suppression and price depression. The applicant’s information also indicated declines in sales volumes, output, productivity, capacity utilisation, profits, cash flow, market share, growth, return on investment, capital investment and an increase in inventory levels.
On this basis, ITAC found that there was prima facie proof of material injury.
Safripol submitted information alleging:
- There is freely disposable capacity or an imminent substantial increase in PET capacity in China for the JS Group, Egypt and Oman
- A significant increase of allegedly dumped imports into the SACU market
- PET entering the SACU market at prices that will have a significant depressing and suppressing effect on SACU prices
- An increase in the exporters’ inventories
- The state of economies of the countries of export/origin and the influence on the operations of manufacturers and exporters
On this basis, ITAC found prima facie proof of material injury to the SACU industry, threat of material injury and that there is a causal link between the alleged dumped imports and the material injury suffered by the SACU industry or threat of material injury.
The POI to determine the dumping margin is from March 1, 2025, to February 28, 2026. The POI to determine material injury is from March 1, 2023, to February 28, 2026.
Having found sufficient evidence and a prima facie case to justify initiating an anti-dumping investigation, ITAC began an investigation under Section 16 of the ITA Act.