BEIJING - The Chinese Ministry of Commerce said Thursday that it had started an anti-dumping investigation into acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR) from the Republic of Korea and Japan.

The investigation should be concluded by Nov 9 next year, according to an official statement, but may extend to May 9, 2019.

NBR is widely used in oil and petrol resistant industrial rubber products. It is essential to production of aircraft fuel tank seals, fuel hoses, bag fuel tanks and aircraft window seals.