Asia, Malaysia and New Zealand methanol dumping of imports, domestic industry has been substantial damage to, between the dumping and material injury and causal relationship. Thus, since October 28, 2010, the import operator imports originating in Indonesia, Malaysia and New Zealand methanol, the preliminary decision should be based on the companies identified in the dumping margin (9.3% to 37.5%) to China Customs to provide the corresponding margin. However, the notice also announced that found originating in Saudi Arabia there is no dumping of imports of methanol.
Investigation took more than a year
The end of 2008, by the financial crisis, in the context of weak overseas demand, the foreign take advantage of cheap raw material exports to China in large quantities of methanol. Previously, from 2002 to 2008, China imported methanol proportion of the domestic market share dropped to 12% in 2009 ~ May 1, the amount of methanol imports soared, the monthly average of nearly 60 million tons, accounting for 1 of the domestic market / 2. According to customs statistics, imports of methanol in 2009 was 5.288 million tons, according to marketing the country's top five in Saudi Arabia, Iran, Qatar, Oman, New Zealand, respectively, 1.77 million tons of imports from Saudi Arabia, from Iran to import 892,000 tons , imported 416,000 tons from Qatar, Oman imports of 391,000 tons from, imported 329,000 tons from New Zealand. At the time, especially in Middle Eastern countries from abroad methanol prices reach Chinese ports only about 2,000 yuan / ton, forcing the domestic ex-factory price of methanol generally reduced the cost of inverted serious. What happened was, Sichuan, Henan, Gansu and other places of many gas first methanol plant shutdown, loss of business more than 90%.
It is in this case, May 4, 2009, Shanghai Coking Co., Ltd., Jin Ju Chemical Co., Ltd., Zhejiang, Hebei and Anhui are Yuan Chemical Group Co., Ltd. Linquan more than 10 chemical companies, on behalf of the Chinese methanol industry to methanol, the Ministry of Commerce formally proposed anti-dumping applications. Department of Commerce to be accepted immediately and initiate an investigation. June that year, China began from Saudi Arabia and other countries, imports of methanol 4 anti-dumping investigation to assess China's imports from these countries is lower than the production cost of methanol.
After the anti-dumping cases, when a jubilant voice of the industry. Because the domestic enterprises since 2008 in the second half of methanol methanol market prices fell, has been in a more difficult situation, the overall operating rate of domestic methanol industry has been very low. The industry would like to take a change in the market tide of anti-dumping.
By this good news, the domestic methanol prices do have a wave of more powerful rebound from 2009 when the minimum 1,900 yuan / ton in June of this year has been increased to 3100 when the yuan / ton, the domestic enterprises operating rate of methanol and therefore gradually from 3 percent to 6 percent or so. Anti-dumping investigation launched, 6 December 2009, imports of methanol also decreased, on average, about 34 million tonnes, nearly 60 million tons before falling.
In the industry full of hope, looking forward to dumping the results as soon as possible when the June 23, 2010, the Commerce Department published on its website in 2010 38 were announced in view of methanol anti-dumping case is unique and complex, the Ministry of Commerce under the " Anti-dumping Regulations of the PRC, "the provisions of article 26, decided to extend the investigation to the case for 6 months, that is the case the deadline for the investigation period 24 December 2010. At that time, many industry analysts believe that the extension reflects the methanol and related industries in China, the importance and complexity. This message is issued, the domestic spot market drop of methanol 30 yuan / ton.
In fact, as early as July 2009, Dow Jones Newswires published an article on news that Saudi Arabia and China have reached a preliminary agreement, China Saudi Methanol Company to settle anti-dumping investigation. The report quoted sources as saying the two sides in the negotiations on this issue has achieved positive results, and to a preliminary agreement to end the dispute.
At that time, many people did not notice this message. Some even took note of, is also skeptical. However, preliminary results of the recently announced they have made the contents of this message to become a reality.

Why are not included in the list of Saudi
 China is the Saudi petrochemical industry in a big market, the Saudi Methanol is the main exports to China. In 2009, China imported 5.288 million tons of methanol, which originated in Saudi imports reached 1.77 million tons of methanol, imports in various countries and regions accounted for first. So why the anti-dumping can get out of Saudi Arabia "blacklist"?
Blue Sky Chemical Co., Ltd. General Manager Wang Pingmei Ru told reporters CCIN, they are applying this methanol initiated anti-dumping one of the units, he participated in several anti-dumping investigation on methanol hearing. China's foreign trade sector organizations through investigation, the case of Saudi Arabia is indeed special. First, they used to produce methanol rich natural gas resources, the price really cheap, can not find the existence of dumping problems. Second, the Saudi government on the issue of anti-dumping Methanol been to China several times, and constantly with the Chinese government to seek a friendly solution. Good bilateral relations between China and Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia in some international support for China on matters greatly. Therefore, the Chinese in the development of anti-dumping measures, can not fail to take into account these factors.
The response from the Saudi side also see this. China's decision to anti-dumping, the Saudi companies were immediately positive response. At that time Saudi Arabia's largest methanol exporter Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (Sabic) said in a statement released immediately, given the strong relationship with China, the company will seek a friendly solution. Statement also said, "China did not impose protective tariffs Saudi Methanol, we are still in talks to reverse the dumping allegations." China's decision less than a month after the anti-dumping, July 2009, Saudi Arabia Trade and Industry immediately started on anti-dumping allegations in talks with China. As China starts anti-dumping procedures in response to a Saudi trade officials and businessmen delegation visited China at that time to discuss anti-dumping issues.
Some market participants also analyzed that because Saudi Arabia is now China's largest crude oil importer, and Saudi Arabia affect the relationship between China's energy security. In front of this issue, the issue of anti-dumping methanol becomes less critical. The Power of the so-called lesser of two disadvantages.
Excess of anti-dumping dilemma can not be resolved
The targeted Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand methanol anti-dumping measures should be said that the domestic methanol market has some positive effect. However, statistics show that the existence of dumping was found that three countries, exports to China in 2009, the number of methanol less than half of Saudi Arabia. Therefore, the anti-dumping measures on the industry, a small protective effect. 1 August this year, the latest customs data also show that Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand 3 to export only the total amount of methanol than 9%; and Saudi Arabia accounted for 14%. After preliminary anti-dumping investigation, the Middle East is likely to further impact on the Chinese methanol market.
Expert, who declined to be named told reporters that the CCIN, in fact, the current overcapacity in the domestic methanol seriously, even if dumping is found Saudi Methanol, meaning, and also not as big. According to experts, to the end of this year, the domestic production of methanol, the original plan there were 25 projects under construction, the total capacity of 8.61 million tons. Domestic methanol capacity will be at least 29,534,000 tons. In addition, there are 25 in China or in the planning stages of the proposed methanol project, the total capacity of 24.4 million tons. This year the domestic demand for methanol is likely to be lower than the expected 21 million tons. If the alcohol industry is still to maintain the existing rate of expansion of production capacity, to the "second five" mid-term, the domestic methanol production capacity is likely to more than 50 million tons. Even in this period, eliminate 9 million ~ 10 million tons of backward production capacity, the domestic excess methanol is still in a serious situation.
There are experts from another perspective. Preliminary anti-dumping investigation in China is not listed on the Saudi Arabia and other sources of power imported methanol, indicating that the Chinese government hopes to import out of the domestic part of the backward production capacity, shows the determination of energy saving. Wang Ru CCIN reporter learned through interviews, their business, 60 tons of methanol production capacity, but has been discontinued since June this year, up to now, workers have to leave home. Speaking of enterprises have ceased production reasons, the impact caused by the import of methanol market downturn'd Secondly, the main reason is the local government to complete the "five" targets, Yajian excess capacity, limiting the supply of electricity and natural gas, methanol, which is restricted this year The main bottleneck in production. Deputy General Manager of CNOOC Chemical Co., Ltd. CCIN Miao told reporters dry, the current energy-saving goal is to complete the tasks around the top, methanol is the energy-hungry, and the pressure in the phase-out will bear the brunt of cuts. As the impact of imports and energy constraints, the company built the current 80 million tons / year methanol unit can not drive production. The company will make efforts in energy saving in conditions of limited energy supply and create the greatest benefits.
Many analysts said the preliminary anti-dumping investigation, the Middle East region accounted for 7 percent of total imports over the supply channels and unlimited supply, the Middle East is likely to further impact on the Chinese methanol market, the domestic methanol price rally will be challenged. Domestic enterprises, methanol production enterprises to increase competitive pressures, cost pressures and reduced downstream industries. Therefore, enterprises will be faced with how to methanol in the harsh environment of excess capacity in the survival and development issue that must be output from the extension of the simple pursuit of scale development model, as soon as possible to the profound changes in the content model of development process up.
Experts deep processing of methanol to olefins have been described as an example. It is understood that currently in the methanol to olefins technology has made a major breakthrough, 2.67 tons of methanol to produce 1 ton of ethylene and propylene, and low cost. The process is the production process is shorter, and the yield higher, less by-products, a set of 180 million tons / year of methanol to olefins unit only 50 billion yuan of investment. The process with the existing petroleum law Olefin Cracking process compared to a strong competitive edge. The large number of downstream products of ethylene and propylene, the domestic market demand for a long period of time with good prospects for development. This is the impact of imports of methanol enterprise solution, excess capacity of the storm's ideal project. (White)