On September 7, 2026, China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) issued an announcement releasing the preliminary ruling in the anti-dumping investigation into imports of dichlorosilane (DCS) originating from Japan. The investigating authority preliminarily determined that the subject products originating from Japan were being dumped, that the domestic related industry had suffered material injury, and that a causal relationship existed between the dumping and the material injury.

Anti-Dumping Duties Set as High as 80.8%–99.2%

In accordance with the relevant provisions of the Anti-Dumping Regulations of the People's Republic of China, MOFCOM decided to impose provisional anti-dumping measures in the form of security deposits effective September 8, 2026. Importers bringing in dichlorosilane originating from Japan must provide customs with security deposits at the following rates: 99.2% for Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd., 80.8% for Denka Silane Co., Ltd., and 99.2% for all other Japanese companies.

A MOFCOM spokesperson stated that, upon application from the domestic industry, the ministry initiated an anti-dumping investigation into dichlorosilane imports from Japan on January 7, 2026. Following the filing, MOFCOM conducted the investigation in strict accordance with relevant Chinese laws and regulations as well as WTO rules. China has always exercised prudence and restraint in the use of trade remedies and remains firmly committed to safeguarding fair and free trade.

Dichlorosilane: A "Critical Material" for Chip Manufacturing

Dichlorosilane (chemical formula SiH₂Cl₂) is primarily used in thin-film deposition processes during chip manufacturing, including epitaxial films, silicon carbide films, silicon nitride films, silicon oxide films, and polysilicon films. It serves as a core precursor material for the production of logic chips, memory chips, analog chips, and other types of semiconductors, and can also be used in the synthesis of silicon-based precursors and polysilazanes.

Currently, the global dichlorosilane market is dominated by a handful of players, including Japan's Shin-Etsu Chemical and Denka Silane, with domestic supply heavily reliant on imports. The preliminary anti-dumping ruling means that the price advantage of Japanese products will be offset by the high security deposit requirements, opening up market space for domestic dichlorosilane producers.

Domestic Substitution Process Expected to Accelerate

In terms of industry impact, these anti-dumping measures represent a clear positive for China's domestic silicone/semiconductor material industrial chain. On one hand, dichlorosilane and the silicone industry both fall under the silicon-based materials system, and leading domestic silicone enterprises possess deep technical expertise and production capacity in chlorosilane monomer synthesis, with the potential to extend into high-end semiconductor-grade dichlorosilane. On the other hand, against the backdrop of achieving self-reliance and controllability in the semiconductor industrial chain, the domestic substitution process for dichlorosilane is expected to accelerate significantly.

MOFCOM has made it clear that it will continue to conduct the investigation in accordance with the law, fully safeguard the rights of all interested parties, and issue an objective and fair final ruling based on the investigation findings. Industry analysts point out that this preliminary anti-dumping ruling provides a critical market window for the industrialization and development of domestically produced dichlorosilane.

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