China launches anti-dumping probe into key chipmaking material imports from Japan, with immediate effect
China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) announced on Wednesday that it has decided to initiate an anti-dumping investigation into imports of dichlorosilane, a key chipmaking material, originating from Japan, in accordance with relevant laws and regulations, with immediate effect.
The decision to launch the anti-dumping investigation was made in response to a lawfully filed application by the domestic industry and reflects the government's efforts to safeguard normal market order, a Chinese industry analyst said.
Dichlorosilane is mainly used in thin-film deposition during the chip manufacturing process and is applied in the production of logic chips, memory chips, analog chips and other types of semiconductors, according to the MOFCOM.
The MOFCOM received a formal application for an anti-dumping investigation on December 8, 2025, submitted by Tangshan Sunfar Electronic Materials Co Ltd on behalf of China's dichlorosilane industry. The applicant requested that an anti-dumping probe be initiated into imports of dichlorosilane originating from Japan.
In accordance with the relevant provisions of the anti-dumping regulations of China, the MOFCOM conducted a review of the applicant's eligibility, the products under investigation, the domestic like products, the impact of the products under investigation on China's domestic industry, and matters related to the country under investigation.
Based on the evidence provided by the applicant and the MOFCOM's preliminary review, the applicant's production of dichlorosilane meets the requirements set out in the anti-dumping regulations.
As of the date of issuance of this announcement, the ministry has initiated an anti-dumping investigation into imports of dichlorosilane originating from Japan. The dumping investigation period for this case is from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025, and the injury investigation period is from January 1, 2022, to June 30, 2025.
A spokesperson from the MOFCOM said on Wednesday that the investigation was initiated in response to an application from the domestic industry.
According to the spokesperson, the preliminary evidence submitted by the applicant showed that from 2022 to 2024, the volume of dichlorosilane imported from Japan generally trended upward, while prices cumulatively declined by 31 percent. The dumped imports from Japan have harmed the production and operations of China's domestic industry.
After receiving the application, the investigating authority reviewed it in accordance with relevant Chinese laws and regulations and in compliance with WTO rules. It determined that the application met the requirements for initiating an anti-dumping investigation, said the spokesperson.
The investigating authority will conduct the investigation in accordance with the law, fully safeguard the rights of all interested parties, and make an objective and impartial ruling based on the investigation findings, the spokesperson noted.
The decision to launch the anti-dumping investigation was made in response to an application filed by the domestic industry in accordance with the law, and it reflects the government's efforts to safeguard normal market order, Ma Jihua, an industry analyst, told the Global Times on Wednesday.
On a further note, Ma said that the move is supported by clear evidence, which suggested rising import volumes, a marked decline in prices, and the resulting harm to the domestic industry's production and business operations.
In initiating the case, the government strictly followed China's anti-dumping regulations and emphasized compliance with WTO rules, as noted by the MOFCOM, which reflects the investigation's procedural compliance and standardization, Ma said.
Meanwhile, the initiation itself does not prejudge the outcome, and the final ruling will depend on the results of subsequent investigations, said the analyst.
