Colombia finds 108.7% dumping in Chinese citric acid and postpones tariffs

The Foreign Trade Directorate of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism found evidence of dumping in imports of citric acid originating from the People’s Republic of China, with an absolute margin of 0.75 dollars per kilogram, equivalent to 108.70% of the export price. The decision, adopted through Resolution number 935 of 2026, was published in the Official Gazette 53,681 on November 5, 2026, and orders the investigation to continue without imposing provisional antidumping duties.

The case file and the legal framework

The proceeding was opened at the request of Sucroal S. A., on behalf of the national production branch, via Resolution number 548 of July 31, 2026 (Official Gazette 53,575 of August 3, 2026), which initiated the investigation into tariff subheading 2918.14.00.00. The case file was assigned number D-215-77-146.

The process is governed by Decree number 1074 of 2015, modified by Decree number 1794 of 2020, in development of Law 170 of 1994 and the Antidumping Agreement of the World Trade Organization. Prior to the preliminary determination, several actions took place: the formal correction of Resolution number 558 of August 4, 2026, the restoration of terms of Resolution number 634 of 2026, the five-business-day extension of Resolution number 675 of 2026, and the extension of Resolution number 780 of October 20, 2026, which extended the deadline to November 4, 2026, the date of issuance of the act now published and signed by Carolina Acosta Ramos.

A margin calculated with Turkey as a surrogate country

The authority took the period between March 19, 2025, and March 18, 2026, as the analysis period for dumping. Lacking information from the Chinese domestic market, it used the export price from Turkey to third countries—excluding Colombia—reported in the official TURKISTAT database, with a weighted average FOB of 1.44 dollars per kilogram as the normal value.

With an export price to Colombia of 0.69 dollars per kilogram, obtained from the import database of the National Directorate of Taxes and Customs (DIAN), the difference yielded the indicated margin. The investigated product is anhydrous citric acid, with formula C6H8O7 and CAS number 77-92-9, used in the food, pharmaceutical, chemical, cleaning, and agro-industrial industries.

99.23% of external purchases

The semi-annual analysis between 2023-I and 2026-I shows an increasing concentration of Chinese origin within an apparent national consumption that contracted by 6.21% between the reference period and the critical period (2025-II to 2026-I):

• China’s share of imports: increased from 97.58% to 99.23%, a rise of 1.65 percentage points.
• Chinese FOB prices: fell 5.33% during the critical period and remained below those of other origins, with differences of 218.02% in 2025-II and 440.20% in 2026-I.
• Undervaluation: recorded against the price of the domestic product in all analyzed semesters.
• Penetration: the investigated imports gained 113.67 percentage points compared to domestic production oriented toward the internal market.

During the call for participation stage, 18 entries were recorded, including Circle Trading S. A. S., Comestibles Aldor S. A. S., Lucta Grancolombiana S. A. S., GMP Productos Químicos, Postobón S. A., Quala S. A., Molires S. A., Smartcol S. A. S., Químicos Industriales S. A. S., Disan Colombia S. A. S., EssentiAll S. A. S., Ciacomeq S. A. S., and the China Chamber of Commerce of Metals, Minerals and Chemicals (CCCMC).

Material injury, causality yet to be proven

The authority found unfavorable indicators in the domestic production branch: the volume of production oriented toward the internal market fell 29.04%, domestic sales 6.25%, direct employment 1.97%, and the operational profit margin 19.65 percentage points, while operational profit decreased 236.62%.

However, it concluded that it is necessary to deepen the analysis of causality and non-attribution, particularly regarding the contraction of demand, imports from third countries, and the internal variables of the petitioning company. Therefore, the first article orders the investigation to continue and the second rules out provisional duties; the decision on definitive tariffs must be based on additional evidence. The act does not admit any appeal and takes effect from the day following its publication.

Citric acid is a cross-cutting input for food, beverages, and cleaning products, so the definition of its import cost directly affects the price structures of several sectors. The resolution will also be communicated to the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Colombia.

Source: Official Gazette, 53,681 of November 5, 2026, p. 17 (official reference: Resolution number 935 of 2026).