India begins probe into steel dumping by six countries

New Delhi: India has started an investigation into alleged dumping of a certain variety of steel products by six countries, including China, Japan and Korea, following a complaint by major producers.

Steel Authority of India (SAIL), JSW Steel and Essar Steel India have filed a petition before the Directorate General of Anti-Dumping and Allied Duties (DGAD) for initiation of anti-dumping investigation and imposition of duty on the alleged dumped imports.

In a notification, DGAD has said it has prima facie found sufficient evidence of dumping of the goods originating in or exported from countries such as China, Japan, Russia, Korea, Brazil and Indonesia.

"... The authority hereby initiates an investigation into the alleged dumping causing consequent injury to the domestic industry... To determine the existence, degree and effect of dumping and recommend the amount of anti-dumping duty, which if levied, would be adequate to remove the injury to the domestic industry," it said.

The probe covers hot-rolled flat products of alloy or non-alloy steel in coils of width up to 2,100 mm and thickness up to 25 mm and hot-rolled flat products of alloy or non-alloy steel not in coils (commonly known as sheets and plates) of a width of up to 4,950 mm and thickness up to 150 mm.

These are used for auto sector, oil and gas line pipes/exploration, cold-rolling, pipe and tube manufacturing, infrastructure and construction, among others.

DGAD is the nodal agency under the Commerce Ministry for such investigations.

The period of investigation is July-December 2015. However, for the purpose of analysing injury, the data of 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15 and April-Dec 2015 will also be considered, the notification added.

As per available information, the said three producers account for the lion's share of the total domestic production in India.

The application has also been supported by two other domestic producers - Tata Steel and Jindal Steel and Power, it added.

The move assumes significance as the sector is facing challenges due to cheap steel imports. The government has already taken steps such as imposing minimum import price and safeguard duty to guard domestic producers.