Commission opens expiry review of anti-dumping duties on American and Saudi glycol

The European Commission has opened an expiry review of the anti-dumping duties in force on imports of mono ethylene glycol (MEG) originating in the United States of America and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The decision, taken under Article 11(2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/1036, was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 13 November 2026 as notice C/2026/5958. The review will establish whether allowing the measures to lapse would lead to a continuation or recurrence of dumping and of injury to the Union industry.

The procedure follows the publication of a notice of impending expiry (C/2026/987, 17 February 2026) and a review request lodged on 14 August 2026 by the Consortium of European MEG Producers, which acted on behalf of the Union industry within the meaning of Article 5(4) of the basic Regulation. An open version of the request and the analysis of the degree of support among Union producers are on the file open to interested parties.

The measures under review are the definitive anti-dumping duty imposed by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1976 of 12 November 2021, as last amended by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/1292 of 22 July 2022. The product concerned is mono ethylene glycol (current EC number 203-473-3), currently classified under CN code ex 2905 31 00, with TARIC code 2905 31 00 10.

Grounds: significant dumping margins and unused capacity

For the United States, the applicant based its allegation on a comparison between domestic prices and the export price at ex-works level of MEG sold to the Union; on that basis the dumping margins calculated are significant. For Saudi Arabia, the absence of reliable domestic price data led the applicant to compare a constructed normal value — manufacturing costs, selling, general and administrative costs and profit — with the ex-works export price, again producing significant margins.

On injury, the applicant submitted evidence that imports from both countries have remained significant in absolute terms and in market share, and that their volumes and prices have depressed the quantities sold and the price levels of Union producers, with substantial adverse effects on their overall performance and financial situation. It further argues that unused capacity in the two exporting countries would likely push import volumes higher if the duties expire.

Deadlines for interested parties

All filings go through the Commission’s TRON.tdi system, with dedicated mailboxes for dumping (TRADE-R879-MEG-DUMPING@ec.europa.eu) and for injury and Union interest (TRADE-R879-MEG-INJURY@ec.europa.eu). Key time limits, counted from publication:

• 7 days: producers in the two countries must submit sampling information; unrelated importers must make themselves known using the form annexed to the notice; comments on the provisional sample of Union producers are also due.
• 15 days: requests for a hearing on the initiation of the investigation.
• 30 days from notification of inclusion: sampled producers, importers and Union producers must return their questionnaires.
• 37 days: comments on the request and on the initiation, submissions on Union interest under Article 21, and any other written submission.
• 3 days from notification of the sample decision: comments on the selection.

Investigation calendar

The dumping analysis covers the review investigation period from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026, while injury trends are examined from 1 January 2023 to the end of that period. The Commission may limit the number of producers and importers investigated by sampling under Article 17 of the basic Regulation, and has already provisionally selected a sample of Union producers. The investigation must normally conclude within 12 months and in no case later than 15 months from publication, pursuant to Article 11(5). Because this is an expiry review, the outcome will be either repeal or maintenance of the measures; a party seeking their amendment must request a separate review under Article 11(3). Non-cooperation allows findings to be based on the facts available under Article 18.

The review keeps a duty regime worth defending for Europe’s chemical sector in place while it runs, and it opens a formal channel for producers, importers, users and trade unions to shape the outcome. For an industry where feedstock costs and capacity utilisation decide competitiveness, the Commission’s verdict on unused Saudi and American capacity will set the terms of MEG supply into the Union for years.

Source: Official Journal of the European Union, C series, 13 November 2026, notices, p. 1 (official reference: C/2026/5958).