New Antidumping Duty and Countervailing Duty Petitions on Stationary and Portable Air Compressors from Malaysia, China, and Vietnam

At a Glance

• MAT Industries, LLC, filed antidumping and countervailing duty petitions on stationary and portable air compressors from Malaysia, China, and Vietnam.
• An investigation related to this petition could result in increased prices and/or decreased supply of air compressors.
• The US Department of Commerce is expected to begin investigations on May 20, 2026.

On April 30, 2026, antidumping (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) petitions were filed on stationary and portable air compressors from Malaysia, China, and Vietnam. The petitions were filed by MAT Industries, LLC.

The US AD law imposes special tariffs to counteract imports that are sold in the United States at less than ”normal value.” The US CVD law imposes special tariffs to counteract imports that are sold in the United States with the benefit of foreign government subsidies. For AD/CVD duties to be imposed, the US government must determine not only that dumping and/or subsidization is occurring, but also that there is ”material injury” (or threat thereof) by reason of the dumped and/or subsidized imports. Importers are liable for any potential AD/CVD duties imposed. In addition, these investigations could impact purchasers by increasing prices and/or decreasing supply of air compressors.

Scope

Please note that this section was not written by our authors but is taken verbatim from the petition.

The merchandise covered by these investigations consists of certain stationary and portable air compressors, electric, gas and battery powered, including electric motor and gasoline engine powered air compressors with either oil free or oil lubricated reciprocating pumps. The compressors may be either direct drive or belt driven.

Direct drive air compressors included in the scope have a motor connected directly to the compressor element. Belt driven air compressors included in the scope have a motor connected to the compressor crankshaft with a belt. Direct drive air compressors are more often portable but can be stationary, while belt driven air compressors are either portable or stationary.

The scope includes electric and engine driven air compressors, with either oil free or oil lubricated reciprocating pumps, with an integrated pressure vessel that ranges in size from 4 gallons to 80 gallons.

The scope also includes battery powered motor driven air compressors, with either oil free or oil lubricated reciprocating pumps, with an integrated pressure vessel that ranges in size from 1 to 30 gallons.

Covered air compressors have a power level designation between 373 watts (.5 HP) and 22.37 kilowatts (30 HP). Specifically, portable air compressors often range in power from .5HP (373 watts) to 15HP (11.19KW). Reciprocating stationary air compressors range in power from .5HP (373 watts) to 25HP (18.64KW). However, a portable or stationary air compressor with a different power level, within the range of 373 watts to 22.37 KW, and otherwise meeting the language of the scope, is covered by the scope.

The scope includes only certain reciprocating (piston) compressors, which use a piston moving back and forth in a cylinder to compress the air. The scope does not include rotary compressors. Types of rotary compressors excluded from the scope include rotary screw, rotary vane, and scroll compressors. The scope also excludes dynamic compressors. Types of dynamic compressors excluded from the scope include centrifugal compressors and axial compressors. Subject merchandise also includes finished and unfinished compressors that are further processed in a third country or in the United States, including, but not limited to, assembly or any other processing that would not otherwise remove the merchandise from the scope of this order if performed in the country of manufacture of the in-scope air compressors.

For the purposes of this scope, ”unfinished compressors” are compressors which require additional fabrication such as labeling, and packaging, and kitting operations adding accessories.

Specifically included in the scope are compressors which are imported as part of a package with accessories or other products, or kit. Such accessories include but are not limited to hoses, fittings, tool kits, oils, nail guns, pneumatic paint sprayers, air ratchet wrenches, air grease guns, air drills, air hammers, air sanders, air inflators, and air impact drivers. If such accessories or other products are imported separately from the air compressor, such products are not subject to the scope of this order.

Specifically excluded from the scope are AC, DC and battery powered and battery powered inflators. The excluded inflators do not have an integrated air tank or air reservoir. The excluded inflators have an output of 1 CFM or less.

The in-scope stationary air compressors are classified under subheadings 8414.80.16.15, 8414.80.16.25, and 8414.80.16.35 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (”HTSUS”) The in-scope portable air compressor is classified under subheading 8414.80.16.85 of the HTSUS. Although the HTSUS codes are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the covered merchandise is dispositive.

Estimated Dumping Margins

The petitioner alleges dumping as follows:

• China: 44.12% to 218.58%
• Malaysia: 88.27% to 144.53%
• Vietnam: 37.08% to 175.19%

The petitioner also alleges subsidies with respect to subject imports from all three countries, although the CVD petitions do not quantify the alleged net subsidy margins.

Estimated Schedule of Investigations

The following is an estimated schedule of investigations by the US Department of Commerce (DOC) and the US International Trade Commission (ITC):