Key data
| Regulation | Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2391 |
|---|---|
| Publication | 30 October 2026 |
| Entry into force | 29 October 2026 |
| Affected parties | European importers of cellulose ethers originating from China and South Korea |
| Category | European Regulation — Foreign Trade / Anti-dumping |
| Year | 2026 |
| Origins under registration | People's Republic of China and Republic of Korea |
| Product use sectors | Construction, pharmaceuticals, food and cosmetics |
European importers of cellulose ethers from China and South Korea face a first-level alert: the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2391, published on 30 October 2026, activates mandatory registration of these imports as a preliminary step to the imposition of anti-dumping duties. The measure responds to evidence that export prices from these countries are below normal market value, which harms the European industry in the sector.
What makes this regulation especially urgent is its retroactive effect: any consignment imported from the date of entry into force may be subject to additional tariffs once the Commission concludes its investigation. Failing to act now could result in unforeseen costs in operations already underway.
What does this regulation establish?
Regulation 2026/2391 imposes mandatory registration of imports of certain cellulose ethers originating from China and South Korea. This mechanism operates in two phases:
- Registration phase: The customs authorities of each Member State must register all import declarations of these products from the date of entry into force of the regulation. The importer does not pay additional tariffs at this point, but is identified.
- Retroactive imposition phase: Once the anti-dumping investigation is concluded, the Commission may impose duties that apply retroactively to all registered imports. That is, operations carried out during the registration period may be subject to charges after the fact.
Cellulose ethers are chemical compounds derived from cellulose widely used as thickeners, binders and water retention agents. Their main industrial applications are:
- Construction: mortars, adhesive cements, plasters and paints
- Pharmaceuticals: excipients for tablets and capsules
- Food: thickening and stabilizing additives
- Cosmetics: creams, gels and personal hygiene products
The Commission has found sufficient evidence that export prices from China and South Korea are below normal value, constituting a dumping practice that harms European producers in the sector.
Economic and operational impact
The impact for importers occurs on two distinct levels that must be managed simultaneously:
| Level | Concrete impact | Required action |
|---|---|---|
| Immediate customs | Obligation to declare and register each import of cellulose ethers from China or South Korea | Verify that customs agents apply registration correctly in each customs declaration |
| Retroactive financial | Risk of payment of anti-dumping duties on imports already made from 29/10/2026 | Provision for risk in accounting and review supply contracts |
| Supply chain | Possible price increase of the product once definitive duties are imposed | Explore alternative suppliers outside China and South Korea |
| Commercial contracts | Fixed-price contracts signed before the regulation may not cover the tariff surcharge | Review price revision and force majeure clauses with legal advisor |
The exact level of anti-dumping duties that could be imposed is not determined at this stage: it will depend on the outcome of the Commission's investigation. However, in similar European anti-dumping proceedings, duties have historically ranged between 10% and 50% of the value of the goods, which can represent a very significant impact on the margins of companies that purchase high volumes.
Who does it affect?
- Direct importers of cellulose ethers (methylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, etc.) from China or South Korea
- Construction sector manufacturers that use cellulose ethers as a component in mortars, adhesive cements, plasters or paints
- Pharmaceutical laboratories that use cellulose ethers as excipients in solid medications
- Food industry that uses these compounds as thickening or stabilizing additives (E-461, E-464, E-466 and similar)
- Cosmetics manufacturers that incorporate cellulose ethers in formulations of creams, gels and hygiene products
- Chemical traders and distributors that market these products in the European market
- Customs agents and freight forwarders that manage import declarations for their clients
Practical example
Imagine a construction mortar manufacturing company that imports 200 tonnes of hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) per quarter from a Chinese supplier at a price of €2,000/tonne. The total value of that quarterly operation is €400,000.
With Regulation 2026/2391 already in force, those 200 tonnes are registered. If the Commission concludes the investigation and imposes anti-dumping duties of 20% on the CIF value, the company would receive a retroactive settlement of €80,000 additional for that single quarterly operation, without having budgeted for it.
If the company has fixed-price supply contracts with its end customers (construction companies, for example), that surcharge could not be automatically passed on, absorbing the impact on its margin. This is why immediate contract review and accounting provision for the risk are non-optional actions.
What should companies do now?
- Verify if your imports are affected: Confirm with your customs agent whether the products you import from China or South Korea are cellulose ethers subject to the regulation. Request the exact tariff classification of each product.
- Ensure that registration is applied correctly: Communicate to your customs agent or freight forwarder the existence of Regulation 2026/2391 and require that all import declarations (customs declarations) of these products are correctly registered from 29 October 2026.
- Provision for financial risk: Calculate the volume of affected imports from the date of entry into force and estimate the potential impact based on different tariff rate scenarios. Inform your CFO or financial management so that accounting provisions are considered.
- Review supply and sales contracts: Analyze with legal advisor whether your purchase contracts with Chinese or Korean suppliers include price revision clauses for changes in tariffs. Do the same with your sales contracts with end customers.
- Explore supplier diversification: Identify alternative suppliers of cellulose ethers in countries not affected by the investigation (Europe, India, other markets) to reduce dependence on the origins under registration.
- Monitor the progress of the investigation: Monitor the Official Journal of the EU to learn about the outcome of the anti-dumping investigation and the definitive duties that will be imposed.
Frequently asked questions
What does it mean that imports are «registered» and why is it important?
Registration is a legal mechanism that allows the European Commission to apply anti-dumping duties with retroactive effect. It means that customs authorities identify and record each import of cellulose ethers from China and South Korea. If duties are imposed at the end of the investigation, these can be claimed on all imports registered from 29 October 2026, even though no additional tariff was paid at that time.
When will the definitive amount of anti-dumping tariffs be known?
Regulation 2026/2391 does not set any tariff amount: that is the result of the anti-dumping investigation being conducted by the Commission. The definitive duties will be published in a subsequent regulation in the Official Journal of the EU once the investigation is concluded. Until then, registration is mandatory but does not imply immediate payment of additional duties.
What sectors use cellulose ethers and are exposed to this risk?
According to the regulation itself, cellulose ethers are used in four main sectors: construction (mortars, adhesive cements, plasters, paints), pharmaceuticals (excipients for medicines), food (thickening and stabilizing additives) and cosmetics (creams, gels, hygiene products). Any company in these sectors that imports these compounds from China or South Korea is directly exposed.
What happens if my customs agent does not apply registration correctly?
Registration is an obligation established by a European regulation of direct application. If imports are not registered correctly, the company may have difficulty proving the date of entry of the goods, which can complicate the settlement of retroactive duties or create problems with customs authorities. It is essential to expressly communicate this obligation to your customs agent or freight forwarder.
Can I avoid tariffs by changing the declared origin of the goods?
No. Manipulation of the declared origin of goods constitutes customs fraud, with serious criminal and administrative consequences. The only legitimate way to avoid tariffs is to diversify suppliers to countries not affected by the investigation. If you have doubts about the origin of a product, consult a customs law specialist.
Official source
Consult complete regulation at official source
Notice: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/./legal-content/AUTO/?uri=OJ:L_202602391
