China's petrochemical companies top the list of corporations involved in antidumping cases in the country, Xinhua reported Tuesday, quoting an official from the Ministry of Commerce.

Most of the 47 antidumping cases on the Chinese mainland last year involved petrochemical companies, Liu Huan, a deputy director from the ministry, said during the 2005 cross-Straits economic trade and technological cooperation in the petroleum and chemical industry seminar.

According to the report, 82 out of the 208 antidumping cases investigated last year by member countries of the World Trade Organization were related to the petrochemical sector, the highest among all industries.

Out the total, 63 out of 148 cases, which resulted in antidumping measures involving petrochemical products, topped the list.

By July this year, 39 antidumping cases were registered at the relevant authorities on the mainland, of which 28 cases involved petrochemical products, the report quoted Liu as saying.

Nine cases were related to Taiwan Province, with seven of them involved in the chemical or chemical fiber industry, Liu said.

The official attributed the high number of antidumping cases involving petrochemicals to the large quantity of products in the petrochemical business and intense competition in the local and international markets.

However, Liu said petrochemical enterprises on the mainland and Taiwan should be actively involved in antidumping investigations to protect their image.

The official added that petrochemical corporations must boost efficiency and competitiveness in order to survive.