EU takes action on dumped imports of electrolytic chromium coated steel from Brazil
Steel NewsDate: 19-05-2023 by: Ngoc Cam
On November 16, 2022, the European Commission (EC) imposed definitive anti-dumping duties on electrolytic chromium coated steel (ECCS) originating from China and Brazil. Despite complaints from the China Iron and Steel Association (CISA) about the decision, the EC rejected the arguments and upheld the results. Will the EU's anti-dumping policies and regulations on Brazil and China help Vietnam enhance its advantage in importing steel to the EU?
1. EU: Imposing temporary anti-dumping duty up to 77.9% on chromium coated steel from Brazil
Products made of chromium-coated steel, such as iron or non-alloy steel, that are plated or coated with chromium oxides or with chromium and chromium oxides, play a significant role in industries and consumer packaging. It is frequently used in food packaging or as optical fiber protection material and other electronic parts. The ECCS market value in the EU is up to 500 million Euros.
On September 24, 2022, the European Steel Association Eurofer represented ArcelorMittal Atlantique et Lorraine (France), ArcelorMittal Etxebarri (Spain); ThyssenKrupp Rasselstein (Germany) and Acciaierie d'Italia, which account for 85-95% of ECCS output and revenue in the EU steel industry, requested an investigation into the dumping status of products imported from Brazil and China.
On May 23, 2022, the European Commission made the decision to impose a temporary anti-dumping duty on the import of electrolytic chromium coated steel from China and Brazil with the CN codes 7210 50 00 and 7212 50 20. The anti-dumping duty rate will change for every business, specifically:
- For Baoshan Iron & Steel from China, the duty rate is 33.2%.
- For Handan Jintai Packaging Material, the duty rate is 53.9%.
- For GDH Zhongyue (Zhongshan) Tinplate Industry and Shougang Jingtang United Iron & Steel subject to a temporary duty rate of 36.7%
- For other manufacturers from China, when exporting ECCS to the EU, they face a temporary duty rate of 77.9%.
Meanwhile, Brazil's Companhia Siderrgica Nacional (CSN) is subject to a provisional anti-dumping duty of 52 percent from the EU. The declaration of the final anti-dumping measures is anticipated for November 23, 2022.
2. EU: Imposing definitive anti-dumping duty up to 53.2% on chromium coated steel from Brazil
Accordingly, the European Commission has imposed an official anti-dumping duty from 30.7 to 77.9% on electrolytic chromium coated steel originating from China and Brazil, valid for 5 years from November 16, 2022.
The EC said that the dumping of steel into the EU market has caused serious damage to domestic producers and the EU industry. The EU market share of China and Brazil has increased abnormally from 13.1% in 2018 to 15.4% in 2022.
With the final tariff decision issued, exporters of electrolytic chromium coated steel from China and Brazil are subject to a duty rate of 239-607 euros per ton. Baoshan Iron & Steel Co of China's ECCS products are subject to a 30.7% anti-dumping duty; Handan Jintai Packaging Material is 53.9%; GDH Zhongyue (Zhongshan) Tinplate Industry is subject to a duty rate of 34.6%; the rest of Chinese companies is 77.9%. ECCS products from Companhia Siderurgica Nacional (CSN) and other Brazilian companies are subject to an anti-dumping duty of 53.2%.
3. Advantages of exporting Vietnamese steel to the EU market
According to a report from the Vietnam Steel Association (VSA), Vietnam exported more than 2.28 million tons of steel in the first three months of 2022. The EU ranked second in terms of Vietnam's steel export market, with more than 19 percent of the industry's export share. In July 2022, Vietnam also exported steel to major markets such as the EU with 1.1 million tons, up 18.1% over the same period in 2021.
The bright spot in the picture of steel exports to the EU cannot ignore the advantage from joining the EU - Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) from August 2020. The EVFTA has supported the export of many groups of products to the EU market, including steel products with many duty incentives that the Agreement brings.
4. EU imports steel from Hoa Phat Group, Ton Dong A
Currently, in the context of the tense war between Russia and Ukraine, it is also an important event that changes the situation of Vietnam's steel exports to the EU. In early 2022, the EU decided to ban iron and steel imports from Russia as a sanction of the European Union. Russia ranks second in steel exports to the EU (after Türkiye) with a share of about 14.1% for flat steel and 19% for long steel.
Turkey is one of Vietnam's biggest competitors in exporting steel to the EU because it has certain advantages in terms of distance, transportation, culture,... However, currently, Turkey is also in the stage of reorganization and construction to overcome the terrible consequences after the earthquake in February 2023. All these factors make the supply as well as the cost of steel production in the EU increase at an alarming rate.
A limited amount of steel exports to the EU will create opportunities for Vietnamese steel exporters to access this market. Typically, Ton Hoa Sen, Ton Nam Kim, Ton Dong A, Hoa Phat, etc. with revenue growth in 2021 mainly thanks to exports to the EU market.
Under the escalation of the world economic and political situation, the steel import market in the EU is still volatile and unpredictable changes. So, don't forget to follow MRS Steel to update more latest world steel news articles. For all inquiries and contact to import Vietnam steel, please contact Hotline +84 76 911 2358 for 24/7 support.
