China's Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said on Monday it would levy provisional anti-dumping duties of up to 37.5 percent on methanol imported from Indonesia, Malaysia and New Zealand.

After a preliminary investigation, the MOC found the three countries had dumped methanol onto the market, causing material damage to Chinese manufacturers.

The MOC has imposed provisional anti-dumping duties ranging between 9.3 percent and 37.5 percent effective Oct 28, according to a news release on its website.

The MOC also concluded its investigation into imports from Saudi Arabia, though no evidence of dumping was found.

Methanol, also known as methyl alcohol, is used as a basic material to produce chemical products such as plastics, paint, construction materials and windshield cleaning fluid.

(Xinhua News Agency October 26, 2010)