China began an antidumping probe Friday into imports of raw nylon material from Japan, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and Russia, Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said.
Four Japanese companies -- Mitsubishi Chemical Corp., Sumitomo Chemical Co., Toray Industries Inc. and Ube Industries Ltd. -- are subject to the probe, which is expected to last for a year, the ministry said.
Chinese trade data show Japan's exports to China of the material, called caprolactam, amount to 72,000 tons, while Russia ships 94,000 tons, the Netherlands 20,000 tons, Belgium 16,000 tons and Germany 7,000 tons, a ministry official said.