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China’s Ministry of Commerce will begin collecting security deposits on dichlorosilane imports from Japan on September 8, 2026, implementing a provisional anti-dumping measure that strikes at a niche but vital corner of the global semiconductor supply chain.
Dichlorosilane, or DCS, is a high-purity toxic gas used in the thin-film deposition processes that are fundamental to fabricating semiconductor chips. Japan happens to be one of the world’s leading suppliers of the ultra-high-purity variety.
How we got here
The security deposit announcement is the latest step in a formal anti-dumping investigation that MOFCOM launched on January 7, 2026. The probe was triggered by an application from Tangshan Sanfu Electronic Materials Co. Ltd., a domestic DCS producer that argued Japanese imports were undercutting Chinese manufacturers.
The core complaint: Japanese dichlorosilane shipments to China increased significantly between 2022 and 2024, while prices dropped by 31% over the same period.
The investigation covers a dumping assessment period from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025, with the broader injury analysis stretching back to January 1, 2022. MOFCOM expects to wrap things up by January 7, 2027, though it has the option to extend the timeline by six months.
Three major Japanese producers have been identified in connection with the investigation: Shin-Etsu Chemical, Air Liquide Japan G.K., and Mitsubishi Chemical Group Corporation.
The bigger trade picture
This isn’t happening in a vacuum. The anti-dumping investigation was formally launched just one day after China announced a ban on certain dual-use exports to Japan.
For context, dichlorosilane falls under tariff code 28539090.
What this means for semiconductor supply chains
The immediate effect of security deposits is financial friction. Importers of Japanese DCS will need to post deposits before goods clear customs, raising the effective cost of doing business.
If the investigation ultimately results in formal anti-dumping duties, Japanese producers might choose to adjust pricing strategies, absorb costs, or gradually reduce their exposure to the Chinese market. Any of those outcomes would tighten supply for Chinese semiconductor manufacturers who rely on Japanese DCS.
The investigation’s conclusion, expected in early 2027 at the earliest, will determine whether provisional deposits become permanent duties.
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