EC to impose duty of up to 7.8% on some Turkish steel imports: Colakoglu

The European Commission is to impose an anti-dumping duty of 4.6%-7.8% on imports of some Turkish steel products, the CEO of major Turkish steelmaker Colakoglu told S&P Global Platts on Dec. 17.

The EC launched an anti-dumping investigation into imports of certain hot-rolled flat products from Turkey in mid-May following a request by European steelmakers group Eurofer.

“The EU Commission latest duty decision is another step to block imports from Turkey,” Colakoglu CEO Ugur Dalbeler, said. “As long as Turkey will not respond to the EU with counter measures, it seems that they will continue their moves in this regard.”

According to the EC’s decision document, seen by Platts, Colakoglu is subject to the highest provisional duty of 7.6%, while Turkey’s largest integrated steel producer, Erdemir Group (Erdemir and Isdemir), has a duty rate of 5.4%.

Habas has the lowest duty at 4.8%, while Borcelik and Agir Haddecilik will face a duty of 5.9%. All other Turkish companies will have a provisional duty of 7.6%.

The EC said in November that imports of hot-rolled flat steel from Turkey would be subject to registration from Nov. 13 as part of its anti-dumping investigation, meaning retroactive duty also can be applied from this date.

The EU is Turkey’s main HRC export market and the duty decision could limit Turkish mills’ exports.

Despite quotas and safeguard investigations, Italy remained Turkey’s main HRC export market over January-October at 785,500 mt, according to Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK) data. The total was lower than the 867,100 mt in the same period of 2019.

Spain became Turkey’s second-biggest export destination in the first 10 months of 2020 at 308,700 mt, again sharply lower than 516,600 mt a year earlier.

The EC has not formally confirmed its intention to impose the duties.

— Cenk Can