On November 2, 2021, the Ad Hoc Coalition of American SAP Producers (“Petitioner”), filed a petition for the imposition of antidumping duties on imports of superabsorbent polymers from Korea.

SCOPE OF THE INVESTIGATION

The merchandise covered by this order is superabsorbent polymers (“SAP”), insoluble in water, which result from a polymerization of primarily acrylic acid monomer molecules (or its sodium salts) with crosslinkers to form crosslinked polymer networks, with a high capacity to absorb and retain water and aqueous liquids, originating from the Republic of Korea.

All forms and sizes of SAP, regardless of packaging type, including but not limited to granules, pellets, powder, flakes, liquid, or gel are within the scope of this order.

The scope also includes SAP that is combined, commingled, or mixed with other products.  For such combined products, only the SAP component is covered by the scope of this order.  SAP that has been combined with other products is included within the scope, regardless of whether the combining occurs in third countries.  A combination is excluded from this order if the total SAP component of the combination (regardless of the source or sources) comprises less than 5 percent of the combination, on a dry weight basis.

Notwithstanding the foregoing language, an SAP combination that is transformed through a chemical reaction or physical process into another product such that the SAP can no longer be separated from the other products is excluded from the scope.

Subject merchandise includes material matching the above description that has been produced in and exported from Korea.

SAP is classified under HTSUS subheading 3906.90.5000.  Although the HTSUS subheading is provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the merchandise is dispositive.

PETITIONERS

BASF Corporation
100 Park Ave.,
Florham Park NJ 07932

 

Evonik Superabsorber LLC
299 Jefferson Road
Parsippany, NJ 07054

 

COUNSEL FOR PETITIONERS

Stephen J. Orava, Esq.

KING & SPAULDING LLP

1700 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Washington, D.C. 20006
(202) 737-0500

 

NAMED PRODUCERS/EXPORTERS

For a list of foreign producers/exporters alleged by Petitioner, please see Attachment I.

 

NAMED IMPORTERS

For a list of U.S. importers alleged by Petitioner, please see Attachment II.

 

ESTIMATED SCHEDULE

Event	Earliest Date
Petition Filed	November 2, 2021
DOC Initiation	November 22, 2021
ITC Preliminary Investigation:
Questionnaires Due	November 16, 2021
Request to appear at hearing	November 22, 2021
Hearing	November 24, 2021
Briefs	November 29, 2021
ITC Vote	December 17, 2021
DOC Investigation Schedule:
DOC Preliminary Antidumping Determination	April 11, 2022
DOC Final Antidumping Determination	June 27, 2022
ITC Final Investigation:
ITC Final AD Determination	August 9, 2022

 

ALLEGED DUMPING MARGIN

Korea: 38.9%

 

IMPORTS OF SUBJECT MERCHANDISE FROM KOREA

	2018	2019	2020	2020 (Jan-Jun)	2021 (Jan-Jun)
Quantity (KG)	33,567,955	31,158,778	62,470,207	44,532,502	46,835,198
Value ($)	60,742,863	55,328,053	90,113,802	65,300,575	77,888,624
AUV ($/KG)	1.81	1.78	1.44	1.47	1.66

 CONTACT US

For more information concerning this petition and how it may affect your business, please contact Jeffrey Neeley, Nithya Nagarajan, or Stephen Brophy.