UK Opens Anti-Dumping Investigation into S-PVC Imports from China, Mexico and South Korea

The UK’s Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) has launched a formal anti-dumping investigation into imports of suspension polyvinyl chloride (S-PVC) from China, Mexico and South Korea, amid claims that unfairly priced imports are harming domestic manufacturers.

The investigation follows an application from INOVYN ChlorVinyls Ltd, the UK’s only producer of S-PVC, which alleges that imported products from the three countries are being dumped into the UK market at unfairly low prices, causing injury to the domestic industry. The company argues that increased volumes of lower-priced imports have damaged the competitiveness of UK production.

S-PVC is a key raw material used across a range of manufacturing sectors, including the production of pipes, cables, flooring, packaging and window frames. The material plays an important role in the construction, infrastructure and packaging industries.

The TRA will now assess whether imports from China, Mexico and South Korea are being dumped and whether those imports have caused material injury to the UK industry. If the authority finds evidence of both dumping and injury, it could recommend trade remedies designed to restore fair competition in the market.

The case comes as the UK Government continues to identify the chemicals sector as strategically important to national industrial resilience. The Government has previously announced a £350 million Critical Chemicals Resilience Fund aimed at strengthening supply chains and supporting key domestic producers.

Businesses that import, export, manufacture or use S-PVC products may be affected by the investigation. The TRA has invited interested parties to register and provide evidence through the Trade Remedies Service portal by 21st August 2026.

The investigation period covers imports between 1st July 2025 and 30th June 2026, while the injury assessment will examine market conditions from 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2026. Before any measures are introduced, the TRA would also conduct an economic interest test to determine whether potential remedies would benefit the wider UK economy.

For manufacturers, trade unions and businesses operating in sectors that rely on PVC products, the outcome of the investigation could have significant implications for pricing, supply chains and employment.