Imports of soda ash: NTC imposes provisional anti-dumping duty

ISLAMABAD: The National Tariff Commission (NTC) has imposed a provisional anti-dumping duty of 10.85 percent on dumped imports of disodium carbonate (soda ash) originating in and exported from China for a period of four months.

According to a notice of preliminary determination issued by the NTC on August 15, 2026, the Commission initiated an anti-dumping investigation on June 11, 2026, following an application filed by Lucky Core Industries Limited and Olympia Chemical Limited.

The Commission said the investigation established, on a preliminary basis that Chinese soda ash was being imported into Pakistan at dumped prices and that the dumped imports had caused material injury to the domestic soda ash industry, with a causal link between dumping and the injury.

Soda ash, classified under Pakistan Customs Tariff (PCT) Code 2836.2000, is used in the manufacture of detergents, soaps, cleaning compounds, sodium-based chemicals, float glass, containers, tableware, silicates and other industrial chemicals. It is also widely used in the paper and metallurgical industries and desalination plants.

The NTC conducted the dumping investigation for the period from April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026, while the injury investigation covered the period from April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2026.

The Commission noted that none of the Chinese exporters/producers provided the requisite information in response to the Exporter’s Questionnaire within the prescribed timeframe.

Consequently, it determined the normal value, export price and dumping margin for Chinese exporters/producers on the basis of the best available information under Section 32 of the Anti-Dumping Duties Act, 2015.

According to the preliminary determination, the domestic industry suffered material injury due to an increase in the volume of dumped imports, price undercutting and price depression, as well as declines in market share, capacity utilisation, productivity, profits and return on investment.

The Commission also found that the magnitude of dumping contributed to the injury suffered by the domestic industry and concluded that the material injury was caused by dumped imports from China. It therefore did not examine the threat of material injury. The provisional anti-dumping duty of 10.85 percent ad valorem will remain in force for four months from the date of publication of the notice in the press. However, the duty will not be levied on the investigated product used as an input in products destined solely for exports or foreign grant-in-aid projects where such imports are covered under a customs-duty exemption scheme under the Customs Act, 1969.

The NTC has invited registered interested parties to request a hearing within 30 days of publication of the preliminary determination notice.

The Commission is required under Section 39 of the Anti-Dumping Duties Act to make its final determination within 180 days of publication of the preliminary determination notice.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026