China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) launched an anti-dumping investigation into imports of p-nitrotoluene from the European Union in response to an application by the domestic industry and based on preliminary evidence of dumping and resulting damage to Chinese producers. The investigation followed an application submitted on September 14 by Jiangsu Huaihe Chemicals Co and Hubei Dongfang Chemical Industry Co on behalf of China’s p-nitrotoluene industry. Chinese producers alleged that EU exporters had adopted a low-price dumping strategy to maintain or expand their share of the Chinese market.
Preliminary evidence submitted by the applicants showed that the dumping margin on EU-origin p-nitrotoluene exports to China exceeded 100%. Imports of p-nitrotoluene from the EU remained at high levels between 2022 and 2025, while prices fell by nearly 60% cumulatively over the period, a Spokesperson from MOFCOM, citing industry data, noted. “The dumped imports from the EU had caused damage to the production and operations of China’s domestic industry,” read the MOFCOM statement.
The probe, launched on October 3, will examine alleged dumping from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026. It is expected to conclude by October 3, 2027, with a possible six-month extension in special circumstances, according to a MOFCOM announcement. P-nitrotoluene, also known as 4-nitrotoluene, is an organic chemical widely used in industries including dyes, pigments, pesticides and pharmaceuticals.
The EU has launched 28 trade-remedy investigations against China since 2025, around 50% of which involved chemical products. In particular, the EU has recently launched three investigations into Chinese chemical products in succession, including polyvinyl chloride, the Global Times reports.
