Malaysia's anti-dumping probe into biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) film-grade has had minimal impact on demand for BOPP resins, market sources said Thursday.
The Ministry of International Trade and Industry reported on its web site July 24 that it had opened the probe into imports of BOPP film-grade originating in Taiwan, Thailand, China, Indonesia and Vietnam.
The investigation, which closed Wednesday, covered BOPP shipments into Malaysia from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2011. Malaysian BOPP film-grade producer San Miguel Yamamura Plastics Film Sdn Bhd lodged the petition.
Resins producers and traders said the anti-dumping probe was into the finished product, not the resins which as a result had seen no impact. "Regardless of it, the downstream will still need the resin material," a Malaysia BOPP resin producer said.
A Thai BOPP resin producer said the impact should be limited as Malaysia is not a big consumer of the product, while a trader based in Vietnam said it had not heard anything from its customers but would monitor matters.
BOPP film-grade is classified under harmonized system code 3920.20.200 and ASEAN harmonized tariff nomenclature 3920.20.00.20.
BOPP imports from ASEAN countries and China do not have to pay any import duties because of free trade agreements while Taiwanese BOPP imports have 3.5-8% import duties.
