The Indian government has decided to remove anti-dumping charges on imports of caustic soda products from the Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (Sabic), according to the official Saudi Press Agency.

India had levied the fine on Sabic almost 18 years back, when the country’s Commerce and Industry Ministry launched an environmental dumping probe in December 2000 into the import of caustic soda and its derivatives, resulting in levying an anti-dumping fine of $130.6 per tonne on relevant Sabic imports in June, 2001.

A second review undertaken by the ministry in September, 2011 ordered Sabic to continue paying the fine.

A legal team formed by Sabic as per a royal decree, led by Saudi Minister of State for Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, participated in a third review of the dispute by New Delhi, and successfully pleaded to reduce the charge from $130.6 to $16.24 per tonne.

The final report issued by the Indian ministry on 1 August has found the harmful impact of Sabic’s caustic soda product on the country’s environment to have been mitigated, and has therefore recommended dropping the anti-dumping charges.