BEIJING -- China will levy anti-dumping duties on toluidine imported from the European Union from Thursday.

The Ministry of Commerce has ruled that toluidine exporters from the EU dumped their products on the Chinese market and impaired domestic producers' interests.

Toluidine is an organic chemical widely used in the production of dyes, medicines and farm chemicals.

Anti-dumping duty rates for the chemical will be 19.6 percent from LANXESS Deutschland GmbH and 36.9 percent from all other EU companies.

The duties will be in place for five years.

The investigation was launched by the ministry in June 2012, at the request of Chinese toluidine producers.