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News Release 18-126
Inv. No(s). 731-TA-1387-1391 (Final)
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819
The United States International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that a U.S. industry is not materially injured or threatened with material injury by reason of imports of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin from Brazil, Indonesia, Korea, Pakistan, and Taiwan that the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) has determined are sold in the United States at less than fair value.
Chairman David S. Johanson and Commissioners Irving A. Williamson, Meredith M. Broadbent, Rhonda K. Schmidtlein, and Jason E. Kearns voted in the negative.
As a result of the USITC’s negative determinations, no antidumping duty orders will be issued on imports of this product from Brazil, Indonesia, Korea, Pakistan, and Taiwan.
The Commission’s public report Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Resin from Brazil, Indonesia, Korea, Pakistan, and Taiwan (Inv. Nos. 731-TA-1387-1391 (Final), USITC Publication 4835, October 2018) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigations.
The report will be available by November 21, 2018; when available, it may be accessed on the USITC website at: http://pubapps.usitc.gov/applications/publogs/qry_publication_loglist.asp.
UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20436
FACTUAL HIGHLIGHTS
Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Resin from Brazil, Indonesia, Korea, Pakistan, and Taiwan
Investigation Nos. 731-TA-1387-1391 (Final)
Product Description: PET resin is a large‐volume, commodity‐grade thermoplastic polyester polymer that is primarily sold in bulk form as chips or pellets to downstream end users/converters. Converters use PET resin to manufacture bottles and other sterile containers that house liquid and solid products for human consumption or contact. Articles manufactured with PET resin are clear, transparent, sterile, lightweight, and thermally stable. The PET resin covered in these investigations has an intrinsic viscosity of at least 0.70, but not more than 0.88, deciliters per gram. Included are blends of virgin PET resin and recycled PET resin containing 50 percent or more virgin PET resin content by weight, provided such blends meet the intrinsic viscosity requirements above. The products covered include all PET resin meeting the above specifications regardless of additives introduced in the manufacturing process. Major end‐use applications for bottle grade PET resin include carbonated soft drink bottles, water bottles, and other containers such as for juices, peanut butter, jams and jellies, salad dressings, cooking oils, household cleaners, and cosmetics.
Status of Proceedings:
1. Type of investigation: Final phase antidumping duty investigations.
2. Petitioners: DAK Americas, LLC, Charlotte, NC; M&G Polymers USA, LLC, Houston, TX; Indorama Ventures USA, Inc., Decatur, AL; and Nan Ya Plastics Corporation, America, Lake City, SC.
3. USITC Institution Date: Tuesday, September 26, 2017.
4. USITC Hearing Date: Thursday, September 13, 2018.
5. USITC Vote Date: Thursday, October 18, 2018.
6. USITC Notification to Commerce Date: Wednesday, October 31, 2018.
U.S. Industry in 2017:
1. Number of U.S. producers: 4.
2. Location of producers’ plants: Alabama, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and West Virginia.
3. Production and related workers: 931.
4. U.S. producers’ U.S. shipments: $3.1 billion.
5. Apparent U.S. consumption: $3.8 billion.
6. Ratio of subject imports to apparent U.S. consumption: 12 percent.
U.S. Shipments of Imports in 2017:
1. U.S. shipments of subject imports: $437.9 million.
2. U.S. shipments of nonsubject imports: $270.3 million.
3. Leading import sources: Mexico, Taiwan, and Brazil.