Chemicals giant Ineos, controlled by billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe, has launched a blistering attack on the European Commission, accusing it of enabling 'industrial self-harm' through its failure to adequately tackle a flood of cheap imports from Asia.
A Tidal Wave of Imports
The company confirmed on Tuesday 11 November 2025 that it has filed, or is in the process of filing, ten major anti-dumping cases with EU authorities. Ineos stated this drastic action is essential to defend its European production sites, protect its workforce, and secure long-term investments that support thousands of customers, suppliers, and contractors.
Ineos warned that a 'tidal wave' of low-cost imports from Asia, the Middle East, and the United States is systematically undercutting European producers. The firm highlighted that these producers are already grappling with the world's highest energy prices and escalating, unilateral carbon costs, putting them at a severe competitive disadvantage.
'We Are Finished' Without Action
Steve Harrington, CEO of INEOS Styrolution, did not mince words. 'This is industrial self-harm!' he declared. 'While the US and China protect their industries, Europe allows unfair ABS imports from South Korea and Taiwan. That puts six ABS plants and 1,000 European jobs at risk.'
Harrington pointed to a stark contradiction in the EU's own data, which shows injury levels to industry as high as 67 per cent. Despite this, he stated that Brussels has proposed anti-dumping duties as low as 3.7 per cent, a figure he labelled 'completely ineffective.' His stark conclusion was: 'Unless Europe acts decisively, we are finished.'
Call to Strengthen EU Trade Defences
The company's call for robust action is supported by data from the European Chemical Trade association (CEFIC). The data reveals that imports of chemicals from China surged by 8.3 per cent in the first half of 2025. These carbon-intensive products, Ineos argues, are flooding the European market having paid only a fraction of the energy costs and no carbon price at all.
Tom Crotty, an INEOS Group Director, criticised the gap between the EU's rhetoric and its actions. 'Europe talks about autonomy, resilience and the Green Deal,' he said. 'But when faced with blatant product dumping, it shows weakness. Sites are closing, carbon-heavy imports are surging, and politicians are still asleep at the wheel.'
Ineos has issued a direct call to the European Commission to strengthen its trade defences and provide the necessary resources before the year-end. The firm demands that Brussels 'act decisively to stop the deindustrialisation of Europe,' cautioning that failure to do so risks the foundation of the entire continent's manufacturing sector.
