December 8, 2022
News Release 22-136
Inv. No(s). 731-TA-1575 and 731-TA-1577
Contact: Elizabeth Nesbitt, 202-205-1819
Emulsion Styrene-Butadiene Rubber from Czechia and Russia Does Not Injure U.S. Industry, Says USITC

The United States International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that a U.S. industry is not materially injured or threatened with material injury by reason of imports of emulsion styrene-butadiene rubber from Czechia and Russia that the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) has determined are sold in the United States at less than fair value.

Chairman David S. Johanson and Commissioners Rhonda K. Schmidtlein, Jason E. Kearns, and Amy A. Karpel voted in the negative. Commissioner Randolph J. Stayin did not participate.

As a result of the Commission’s negative determinations, no antidumping duties will be imposed on imports from Czechia and Russia.

The Commission’s public report Emulsion Styrene-Butadiene Rubber from Czechia and Russia (Inv. Nos. 731-TA-1575 and 731-TA-1577 (Final), USITC Publication 5392, December 2022) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigation.

The report will be available by January 24, 2023; when available, it may be accessed on the USITC website at: https://www.usitc.gov/commission_publications_library.

UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20436
 
FACTUAL HIGHLIGHTS
 
Emulsion Styrene-Butadiene Rubber (ESBR) from Czechia and Russia
Investigation Nos: 731-TA-1575 and 731-TA-1577 (Final)
 
Product Description:  Emulsion styrene-butadiene ("ESBR") elastomers are large volume synthetic rubber copolymer derivatives of the petrochemical feedstocks styrene and butadiene produced by cold emulsion polymerization at 41-55 degrees Fahrenheit and typically compressed into salable rectangular bales of 80 pounds. ESBR can also be sold in granules, crumbs, pellets, powders, plates, sheets, and strip. Scope products resulting from the production process consist of the 1500 and 1700 series grades of ESBR synthetic rubber elastomers defined by the International Institute of Synthetic Rubber Producers (“IISRP”). The 1500 series products are light-colored solid grades of ESBR popularly sold for tire and other applications, while the 1700 series products are darker in color and contain petroleum extender oil designed for ease of processing in tire component compounding and other applications. Some 70 percent or more of ESBR is used in tire tread compound formulations designed for new passenger vehicle and light truck replacement tires and heavier truck tire retreads, where its superior durability and extended tire wear characteristics excel. ESBR is also employed in a large variety of other applications including conveyor belting, hoses, gaskets, wire and cable, mats, flooring, and footwear. Scope exclusions include IISRP carbon black master batch 1600 and 1800 series, high styrene resin master batch 1900 series, and latex intermediate products.
 
Status of Proceedings:
  1. Type of investigation:  Final antidumping duty investigations.
  2. Petitioner:  Lion Elastomers LLC, Port Neches, Texas.
  3. USITC Institution Date:  Monday, November 15, 2021.
  4. USITC Hearing Date:  Tuesday, November 08, 2022.
  5. USITC Vote Date:  Thursday, December 08, 2022.
  6. USITC Notification to Commerce Date:  Tuesday, December 27, 2022.
U.S. Industry in 2021:
  1. Number of U.S. producers:  2.
  2. Location of producers’ plants:  Texas.
  3. Production and related workers:   1
  4. U.S. producers’ U.S. shipments:  1
  5. Apparent U.S. consumption:  1
  6. Ratio of subject imports to apparent U.S. consumption:  1
U.S. Imports in 2021:
  1. Subject imports:  $41.7 million.
  2. Nonsubject imports:  $29.6 million.
  3. Leading import sources:  Mexico, Russia, Czechia, Germany, and Taiwan (by volume).
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1 Withheld to avoid disclosure of business proprietary information.
 
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August 3, 2017
News Release 17-108
Inv. No(s). 731-TA-1334-1337 (Final)
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819
Emulsion Styrene-Butadiene Rubber from Brazil, Korea, Mexico, and Poland Injures U.S. Industry, Says USITC

The United States International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that a U.S. industry is materially injured by reason of imports of emulsion styrene-butadiene rubber from Brazil, Korea, Mexico, and Poland that the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) has determined are sold in the United States at less than fair value.

Chairman Rhonda K. Schmidtlein and Commissioner Irving A. Williamson voted in the affirmative.  Vice Chairman David S. Johanson and Commissioner Meredith M. Broadbent voted in the negative. 

As a result of the USITC’s affirmative determinations, Commerce will issue antidumping duty orders on imports of this product from Brazil, Korea, Mexico, and Poland.

The Commission also made a negative finding concerning critical circumstances with regard to imports of this product from Korea.  As a result, goods sold at less than fair value that entered the United States from Korea prior to February 24, 2017 (date of Commerce’s affirmative preliminary determination), will not be subject to retroactive antidumping duties.

The Commission’s public report Emulsion Styrene-Butadiene Rubber from Brazil, Korea, Mexico, and Poland (Investigation Nos. 731-TA-1334-1337 (Final), USITC Publication 4717, August 2017) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigations.

The report will be available by September 13, 2017; when available, it may be accessed on the USITC website at: http://pubapps.usitc.gov/applications/publogs/qry_publication_loglist.asp.

 

UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20436

FACTUAL HIGHLIGHTS

Emulsion Styrene-Butadiene Rubber from Brazil, Korea, Mexico, and Poland
Investigation Nos. 731-TA-1334-1337 (Final)

Product Description:  Emulsion styrene-butadiene rubber (“ESBR”) is a solid form of synthetic rubber copolymer product of styrene and butadiene with a "normal" level of 23.5 percent styrene. ESBR is produced by a cold aqueous emulsion process at 41-55 degrees Fahrenheit, and finished either as a dry 1500 series, or a 1700 series of oil-modified product grade, each having a crumb-like texture commonly pressed into salable bales of up to about 80 pounds. The 1500 series is categorized by the IISRP trade association as a "neat" or pure form of ESBR, while the 1700 series contains petroleum-based extender oil (some 23 to 30 percent) as a homogenized component of the rubber particle. Some 70 percent of ESBR is typically consumed, e.g., in the downstream manufacture of replacement passenger car and light truck tires and truck tire retread compounds, while miscellaneous applications range from conveyor belts to flooring and shoe soles. The scope excludes the 1000 and 1900 series "hot-process" and "high-Styrene" forms of ESBR rubbers, the 1600 and 1800 "black masterbatches," and latex.   

Status of Proceedings:

1.  Type of investigation:  Final phase antidumping duty investigations.
2.  Petitioners:  Lion Elastomers, LLC ("Lion"), Port Neches, Texas, and East West Copolymer, LLC ("East West"), Baton Rouge, Louisiana. 
3.  USITC Institution Date:  Thursday, July 21, 2016.
4.  USITC Hearing Date:  Thursday, June 29, 2017.
5.  USITC Vote Date:  Thursday, August 03, 2017.
6.  USITC Notification to Commerce:  Wednesday, August 23, 2017.

U.S. Industry in 2016:

1.  Number of U.S. producers:  3.
2.  Location of producers’ plants:  Louisiana and Texas.
3.  Production and related workers:  [1]
4.  U.S. producers’ U.S. shipments:  1
5.  Apparent U.S. consumption:  1
6.  Ratio of subject imports to apparent U.S. consumption:  1

U.S. Imports in 2016:

1.  Subject imports:  1
2.  Nonsubject imports:  1
3.  Leading import sources:  Brazil, Mexico, Korea, and Germany (in terms of value).

 

[1] Withheld to avoid disclosure of business proprietary information.

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