EU slaps anti-dumping duties on Chinese lysine imports

EUROPE – In a move to protect its domestic lysine industry, the European Union has imposed definitive anti-dumping duties on lysine imports from China, effective July 12, 2025. 

The duties, which range from 47.7% to 58.3%, will remain in place for five years and replace provisional measures introduced in January 2025.

The decision follows an investigation launched by the European Commission in May 2024, which concluded that dumped Chinese imports were undercutting local production and harming EU industry. 

These provisional measures, introduced while the investigation was ongoing, aimed to prevent further injury to the EU industry by temporarily levelling the playing field against low-priced Chinese imports.

Lysine, a synthetic amino acid crucial in animal feed, human health, and pharmaceuticals, is considered strategic for European food and environmental sustainability.

Company-specific tariffs

Under the newly adopted measures, Jilin Meihua Amino Acid Co. Ltd. and Xinjiang Meihua Amino Acid Co. Ltd., subsidiaries of the Meihua Group, face duties of 47.7%. 

Heilongjiang Eppen Biotech Co., Ltd. will be subject to a 58.2% tariff, while other cooperating Chinese exporters face a 53.1% rate. All remaining imports from China are subject to the highest rate of 58.2%.

The Commission said the tariffs were necessary to counteract “unfair trading practices” that jeopardised European producers’ viability and market share.

Support from EU industry

Eurolysine, the only lysine manufacturer within the EU, praised the Commission’s action. “We welcome this decision, which demonstrates the determination of the Commission and the member states to protect European lysine production from unfair competition,” said Jean-Philippe Puig, CEO of Avril, which acquired Eurolysine in 2024.

“It is perfectly in line with the rationale of the takeover of Eurolysine by Avril a year ago, i.e. the ambition to preserve and develop an activity that is strategic for European sovereignty and the future of the animal feed industry,” he added.

Eurolysine CEO Eddy Feijen echoed the sentiment, highlighting the impact on future production. 

“The introduction of anti-dumping duties for five years opens up medium-term prospects that encourage us in our production development plan. By the second half of 2025, our Amiens plant will have returned to its cruising speed for lysine production, and we are currently working to increase lysine production capacity by 20% by 2027,” he said.

The Commission emphasised lysine’s importance for sustainable livestock farming, noting its role in improving feed efficiency, reducing nitrogen emissions, and supporting animal nutrition.

Sign up HERE to receive our email newsletters with the latest news updates and insights from Africa and the World, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.