The UK government has imposed provisional anti-dumping duties on imports of engine oils and hydraulic fluids from Lithuania and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), following findings that these imports have undercut domestic prices and harmed UK industry.
Announced today (16 April 2025), Business and Trade Secretary has accepted the Trade Remedies Authority’s (TRA) recommendation for provisional measures, which will remain in effect for up to six months as the TRA continues its full investigation.
The decision stems from a complaint lodged by UK lubricant manufacturer Aztec Oils Ltd., leading to an investigation launched in June 2024. The TRA’s preliminary findings revealed that UK producers were being undercut by an average of 37% compared to domestic sales prices, causing material injury to the local industry.
The provisional duties apply to a range of lubricants, including passenger car motor oils, heavy-duty commercial vehicle oils, and hydraulic fluids. Specific duties range from 11.60% to 24.95% for individual companies that participated in the investigation, while blanket rates of 49.59% for Lithuania and 59.40% for the UAE have been set for all other exporters.
According to the TRA, UK lubricant producers could benefit from these measures by an estimated £5 million to £55 million, depending on their ability to adjust prices in response to the duties.
These provisional duties are part of a Provisional Affirmative Determination (PAD), which enables temporary trade remedies during ongoing investigations. The TRA emphasized that the full investigation will continue while the provisional duties are in force.