The US has launched an antidumping investigation into imports of dioctyl terephthalate from South Korea, the Department of Commerce said late last week.

The alleged dumping margins were estimated between 23.7% and 47.86%.

The investigation follows a petition filed by domestic DOTP producer Eastman Chemical on June 30, and was initiated on July 20.

The US International Trade Commission will announce the results of its preliminary findings on August 15, and if DOTP imports from Korea were found to "materially injure, or threaten material injury to the domestic industry," the investigation will continue and a final determination can be expected on April 6, 2017.

US imported 25,800 mt of DOTP from South Korea in 2015, worth around $31 million.

DOTP possesses plasticizing properties and is used in extrusion and injection molding applications.