The Gulf Petrochemicals & Chemicals Association (GPCA) has accused China, India and the EU of protectionism.

China and India have introduced anti-dumping regulations to prevent producers based in Saudi Arabia and Oman from exporting large volumes of petrochemicals for sale at less than cost of production, according to the association.

The organisation says the EU has also launched cases against producers in the UAE and Iran, with plans to introduce similar anti-dumping regulations.

“The GCC and our industry will not accept the application of anti-dumping regulations against exports of petrochemicals and chemicals from the Gulf,” said Abdulwahab al-Sadoun, secretary general of the GPCA , in a statement released on 12 October. “We have seen a surge in protectionist actions brought against countries to block imports. These cases are baseless and violate international rules.”

The European Commission, the EU body dealing with legislation, said on 9 October that it had demanded production costs and sales figures from petrochemicals producers based in the UAE, Iran, and Pakistan.

On 9 October, China’s Industry & Information Technology Ministry said it supported the use of anti-dumping measures against Gulf-based petrochemicals producers.

The association represents major petrochemicals producers including Saudi Arabia’s Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (Sabic) and the UAE’s Abu Dhabi Polymers Company (Borouge).