Japan chemical makers fall, China rivals jump after Beijing launches anti-dumping probe

TOKYO/SHANGHAI, Jan 8 (Reuters) – Shares in Japanese chemical manufacturers fell on Thursday while those of their Chinese rivals jumped after China’s commerce ministry said it is launching an anti-dumping probe into imports of chemicals used in chipmaking. Shin-Etsu Chemical shares dropped 3.4% in Tokyo trading, with Mitsubishi Chemical down 0.4%, underperforming a flat benchmark index. In China, shares of rival Tangshan Sunfar Silicon Industries Co jumped by their limit of 10%, as did shares in Hubei Heyuan Gas, which makes silicon-based function materials. Shares in Jiangsu Nata Opto-Electronic Material rose 4%. The probe into imports from Japan of dichlorosilane…