Asian countries China and Singapore and the US are being probed by India in an anti-dumping investigation into imports of halo isobutene isoprene rubber (HIIR). also known as halobutyl rubber (HBR), into the country.
The period under probe will look at 12 months from July 2024 to June 2025, while injury investigation is for the period between April 2021 and June 2025, India’s Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) said in a recent notification.
The government was acting on a complaint filed by domestic producer Reliance Sibur Elastomers Pvt Ltd (RSEPL), the sole producer of HIIR in the country.
RSEPL is a joint venture between Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries Ltd (74.9%) and Russia’s Sibur Investments AG (25.1%).
In December 2024, the DGTR had recommended a five-year antidumping duties (ADDs) of US$215/tonne to US$1,487/tonne on halobutyl rubber imports from Japan, Russia, Singapore, the UK and US, but the measure did not take effect in the absence of approval from the Ministry of Finance.
“The applicant has claimed that the since ADD was not imposed pursuant to the findings, the domestic industry has continued to suffer retardation to its establishment,” the DGTR said.
An ADD requires approval from the finance ministry to come into effect.
The domestic industry has faced underutiliSed capacities and has suffered significant losses, according to RSEPL in its petition.
RSEPL began operations at its halobutyl rubber plant in February 2021 and declared commercial production in March 2023.
Halobutyl rubber is also named chlorobutyl rubber or bromobutyl rubber. It is mainly used in tubeless airtight layers, heat-resistant inner tubes, heat-resistant hoses and conveyor belts, protective clothing, medicine bottle stoppers, shock pads, and adhesives and sealing materials.