EU to start Turkish HRC import registration

The European Commission will soon announce that Turkish hot-rolled coil imports are subject to registration.

The move is a prerequisite for the imposition of retroactive anti-dumping duties, should the continuing investigation into the country show dumping practices have occurred.

A pre-disclosure of the investigation decision is expected by 23 December, with any provisional measures to be applied from 14 January, although a retroactive duty can be collected on previously imported material from the moment the commission begins registering the imports. The deadline for a definitive duty is 13 July 2021.

Market participants this week said that if a provisional duty is imposed — as it is in most cases — it is expected to be around 8-9pc, with some saying each Turkish mill will have a different rate. There has been talk that sellers have offered to pay the duty, partially or in full, to entice purchases by European buyers.

The move could exacerbate the supply tightness in Europe further and will aid European mills in the continuing contract negotiations.

Turkey is also subject to an anti-subsidy investigation at the moment, the outcome of which is expected by 18 February with any provisional measure to be applicable from 12 March.

By Lora Stoyanova