EU reopens anti-dumping probe into Chinese titanium dioxide imports

The European Commission has reopened the absorption reinvestigation into the anti-dumping measures imposed on imports of titanium dioxide originating in the People’s Republic of China, after receiving evidence that falling Chinese export prices are eroding the corrective effect of the duties in force. The decision is set out in a Notice of reopening published in the Official Journal of the European Union (C series) on 25 August 2026, under reference C/2026/4533.

The request was lodged on 13 July 2026 by the European Titanium Dioxide Ad Hoc Coalition, acting on behalf of the Union industry of titanium dioxide within the meaning of Article 5(4) of the basic Regulation. The Commission, after informing the Member States, determined that the request was lodged by or on behalf of the Union industry and that there is sufficient evidence of absorption, and has therefore reopened the reinvestigation under Article 12 of Regulation (EU) 2016/1036 (the basic Regulation on protection against dumped imports).

Background and existing measures

The measures currently in force are a definitive anti-dumping duty imposed by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/4 of 17 December 2024, which also definitively collected the provisional duty on imports of titanium dioxide from China. The product under investigation is titanium dioxide (TiO2) in all forms, as titanium oxides or in pigments and preparations based on it, containing a minimum of 80 % by weight of titanium dioxide calculated on the dry matter.

• Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Numbers: 12065-65-5 and 13463-67-7
• CN codes: ex 2823 00 00 and ex 3206 11 00 (TARIC codes 2823 00 00 10, 2823 00 00 30, 3206 11 00 10 and 3206 11 00 30)

Grounds for the reinvestigation

The applicant submitted sufficient evidence showing that, after the review investigation period and following the imposition of the measures, Chinese export prices have decreased. The evidence indicates that this decrease has seemingly impeded the intended remedial effects of the measures in force, and that it cannot be explained by an evolution of raw material costs in China, a fall in freight costs, or a change in the product mix.

The reinvestigation will determine whether, after the review investigation period and prior to or following the imposition of the measures, export prices have decreased or whether there has been no movement, or insufficient movement, in resale prices or subsequent selling prices of the imported product in the Union. If the conclusions are affirmative, export prices will be reassessed under Article 2 of the basic Regulation and dumping margins recalculated accordingly. Under Article 12(3), the resulting anti-dumping duty shall not exceed twice the amount of the duty imposed by Regulation (EU) 2025/4.

Procedure and deadlines

The absorption investigation period runs from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026. The reinvestigation is expected to be concluded within 6 months and in any event no later than 9 months from publication of the Notice.

• Comments on the request and the initiation: within 37 days of publication
• Requests for a hearing on the initiation: within 15 days
• Producers and unrelated importers to make themselves known (sampling): within 7 days
• Sampled parties to submit completed questionnaires: within 30 days of notification

Given the potentially large number of producers and importers involved, the Commission may select a sample under Article 17 of the basic Regulation. The normal value established in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/2216 was based for all exporting producers on a constructed normal value reflecting undistorted prices or benchmarks in Indonesia, pursuant to Article 2(6a)(a) of the basic Regulation.

Why it matters

The reopening signals that the Commission considers the existing duties insufficient to restore fair competition in the EU pigment market, where Chinese exporters appear to have absorbed the duty by cutting prices rather than raising them. The outcome will determine whether the anti-dumping duty is recalculated upwards, directly affecting European pigment producers, downstream users and importers of titanium dioxide.

Source: Official Journal of the European Union, C series, C/2026/4533, 25.8.2026 (official reference: C/2026/4533).