EEC starts AD probe over Chinese Graphite Electrodes

EEC starts AD probe over Chinese GE

10 April 20

The Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) started the antidumping (AD) probe over Chinese graphite electrodes (GE). Restricted trading is mostly aimed at limiting the inflow of poor quality products, players say.

The investigation was initiated by Energoprom (EPM) subsidiaries – Novocherkassk Electrode Plant (EPM-NEP) and Novosibirsk Electrode Plant (EPM-NovEP), as well as Doncrab Graphite, which accounted for over 50% of the EAEU total GE output. The investigation concerned round graphite electrodes with diameter less than 520 mm used in furnaces or graphite electrodes that have cross sections of other shapes less than 2,700 sq cm, imported from China, Metal Expert has learnt.

According to the initiators, GE were imported at dumping prices last year, with dumping margin reaching 34.9%. Besides, the initiators are referring to the facts of damage to the economy of the EAEU members due to said imports: lower GE production and sales of local producers in 2019 compared to 2017, as well as lower profitability and reduced capacity utilization. While apparent GE consumption declined, GE imports from China and their share increased. “The segment for small UHP electrodes in China has the most suppliers of poor quality products. Their prices are usually lower than those for needle coke, so it is extremely hard for other suppliers to compete with said traders in terms of pricing,” a source explained the market situation to Metal Expert.

According to Metal Expert data, GE imports to Russia, which are the subject of the investigation (EAEU customs commodity code 8545110089), reached 28,000 t in 2019 (+35% year-on-year). Shipments from China rose from 17,000 t to 22,000 t.

Источник: https://metalexpert.com/en/index.html