Brussels, 11th July 2016 – Today a group of non-integrated processors of wire rod established EUNIRPA, the EUropean Non-Integrated Wire Rod Processors Association. Already in its first meeting EUNIRPA made a strong statement, asking the EU steel producers not to start an Anti-Dumping case against imports from Belarus, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine.
“The main purpose of EUNIRPA is to represent and defend the interests of European non-integrated processors of wire rod in all EU trade, customs, anti-trust and product standard issues affecting their business activities, whether at national or European Union level,” said Kris Van Ginderdeuren who was elected as the first President of EUNIRPA.
In reaction to earlier indications made by EU wire rod producers that they were considering an Anti-Dumping action against imports from Belarus, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine, EUNIRPA made a strong statement asking Eurofer (the European steel association) not to proceed with any such initiative because imports from these countries are basically the only alternatives available in commercially acceptable quantities to non-integrated wire rod processors given the current shortage of wire rod in the EU.
The EUNIRPA Board of Directors consists of Mr Kris Van Ginderdeuren (Van Merksteijn International), President, Messrs Pedro Teixeira (Fapricela) and Ramon Amigó (Exelfil), Vice Presidents and Mrs Eline Verherbrugghen (Intersig), Secretary-General. The founding members of EUNIRPA are: Exel Fil Belgium, Exel Fil Spain, Fapricela, Gallega de Mallas, Intersig Belgium, Intersig France, Sirme si Cabluri and Van Merksteijn International, representing in total more than 3.2 million tonnes of total wire rod processing capacity. Other companies are expected to join EUNIRPA in the weeks and months to come.
EUNIRPA – Mr Kris Van Ginderdeuren – tel. 0031 6 12 39 06 34
