Saudi petrochemical producers to seek WTO pressure on India to lift anti dumping duty on Polypropylene

29-Nov-10

World number one petrochem maker, Saudi Basic Industries Corp. plans to ask the World Trade Organization to pressure India to lift the6.5% per ton anti-dumping duty imposed on Saudi polypropylene, in an effort to protect its own producers of the chemical. Other Saudi manufacturers affected by the duty include Advanced Petrochemicals Co. and National Industrialization Co. Total petrochemical exports from Saudi Arabia to India amount to a “modest” US$200 mln every year. SO this decision will not have a major impact on the suppliers, but will damage chances of the 600,000 Indian processors who look forward to importing cheap polypropylene from Saudi. Saudi polypropylene makers only began exporting to India a few years ago, and the duty will hinder producers from expanding sales there, as the Indian market has promising potential.