GOA, India (ICIS)–Tyre makers in India are looking at other import sources ofstyrene butadiene rubber (SBR), as the government may impose hefty anti-dumping duties on material from major suppliers Europe, South Korea and Thailand, market sources said on Friday.
“We have options to buy from other suppliers. We can adjust – there is flexibility for us,” a major Indian tyre maker said.
The US, Japan Indonesia, Taiwan and China also produce and export SBR, industry sources said.
On 14 January, India’s Department of Commerce issued a notification on the initiation of ADD investigation at the request of domestic SBR producers Indian Synthetic Rubber Ltd (ISRL) and Reliance Industries Limited (RIL).
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ISRL and RIL started producing SBR about two years ago.
The ADD investigation will look into imports of SBR 1500 and SBR 1700 series.
But Indian tyre makers also have the option to continue buying SBR from Europe, South Korea and Thailand, although at higher prices if the ADDs were imposed, industry sources said.
“Quality of SBR product and safety issues cannot be compromised in tyre production, it is not just a matter of price,” another major Indian tyre producer said.
The Indian tyre makers were speaking at the sidelines at the Indian Rubber Meet in Goa, India.
The two-day event ends Friday.
