China has imposed a temporary antidumping measure on chemical imports from South Korea, Japan and South Africa.
 
According to the petrochemical industry on Friday, China's Ministry of Commerce announced on Tuesday that methyl isobutyl ketone(MIBK) imported from South Korea, Japan and South Africa has been dumped in China, causing material damage to domestic firms. 
 
The ministry then set preliminary antidumping duties of 29-point-nine percent on Kumho P&B Chemicals, a South Korean MIBK exporter.
 
The duties slapped on Japanese firms ranged from 48-point-four percent to 190-point-four percent, while those for South African firms ranged from 15-point-nine percent to 34-point-one percent.
 
The Chinese ministry plans to make a final decision around March next year.
 
MIBK is used as a chemical intermediate, a solvent for manufacturing paints, rubbers, pharmaceuticals, other chemicals, and industrial cleaners. It is also used in paints, inks, lacquers, and other types of surface coatings.