EC could start antidumping probe into Turkish, Chinese flat steel bar imports: TCUD

The European Commission could start an antidumping investigation against flat bar imports from Turkey and China, the Turkish Steel Producers’ Association, told S&P Global Commodity Insights Nov. 9 after it received an official letter on the matter from Turkey’s Trade Ministry.

The HS code of the product in question was 7216.50.91, TCUD noted.

According to the letter, some European flat bar producers had signed a petition to the EC in favor of an investigation, which was being evaluated by the EU.

An investigation could result in antidumping duties if it is found that these flat bar product imports from the two countries are being dumped and causing damage to the European domestic market.

But when asked if it had any knowledge of the investigation or petition, the European steel association Eurofer told S&P Global it was not aware of this.

The EC had not responded to a request for additional information by the time of publication, while S&P Global also attempted to reach the Turkish Trade Ministry for additional comment, with no success.

According to the latest TCUD data shared with S&P Global, Turkey’s total flat bar exports totaled 242,600 mt from January through September 2022, down 21.5% on the year.

Turkey’s flat bar exports to the EU, however, remained relatively stable at 67,400 mt, with Romania and Germany remaining the top markets at 16,200 mt and 12,100 mt, respectively.

Turkey’s other top flat bar export destinations for the period were Morocco at 12,800 mt, Tunisia at 10,000 mt, Canada at 9,000 mt, the Dominican Republic at 7,650 mt, Peru at 7,600 mt, and the US at 6,300 mt, the data showed.

Turkish long steel pricing has been pressured by low demand in recent weeks.

Platts assessed Turkish exported rebar at $639/mt FOB Nov. 9, down from an intrayear high of $960/mt FOB, reached April 1.

Platts is a part of S&P Global Commodity Insights.

— Cenk Can