COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2023/809
of 13 April 2023
imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of certain stainless steel tube and pipe butt-welding fittings, whether or not finished, originating in the People’s Republic of China and Taiwan following an expiry review pursuant to Article 11(2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/1036 of the European Parliament and of the Council
1.
PROCEDURE
1.1.
Previous investigation and measures in force
1.2.
Request for an expiry review
1.3.
Initiation of an expiry review
1.4.
Parallel anti-circumvention investigation
1.5.
Review investigation period and period considered
1.6.
Interested parties
1.7.
Claims on initiation
1.8.
Sampling
1.8.1.
Sampling of Union producers
1.8.2.
Sampling of importers
1.8.3.
Sampling of exporting producers in the People’s Republic of China and Taiwan
1.9.
Replies to the questionnaire
1.10.
Verification
2.
PRODUCT UNDER REVIEW AND LIKE PRODUCT
2.1.
Product under review
2.2.
Like product
3.
DUMPING
3.1.
The People’s Republic of China
3.1.1.
Preliminary remarks
3.1.2.
Continuation of dumping during the review investigation period
3.1.2.1.
Procedure for the determination of the normal value under Article 2(6a) of the basic Regulation for the imports of certain stainless steel tube and pipe butt-welding fittings (SSTPFs) originating in the PRC.
3.1.2.2.
Normal value
3.1.2.2.1.
Existence of significant distortions
3.1.2.2.2.
Representative country
3.1.2.2.3.
Undistorted costs and benchmarks and sources used to establish them.
Factor of Production |
Commodity Code in Thailand |
Undistorted value |
Unit of measurement |
Source of information |
Raw materials |
||||
Mother pipes of stainless steel – Welded |
7306 11 |
CNY 25,13 |
KGs |
GTA |
Mother pipes of stainless steel – Seamless |
7304 11 |
CNY 114,74 |
KGs |
GTA |
All mother pipes of stainless steel – Welded and seamless |
7306 11 and 7304 11 |
CNY 68,58 |
KGs |
GTA |
All other raw materials – packaging costs, utilities, consumables |
N/A |
|
Fixed amount (% of direct costs) |
Request for review |
Labour |
||||
Direct labour |
|
CNY 18,59 |
Hours |
National Statistics Office, Thailand, International Labour Organisation (ILO) |
Energy /Utilities |
||||
Electricity |
|
CNY 0,88 |
kWh |
World Bank ‘Doing Business’ |
Gas |
|
CNY 2,35 |
M3 |
Energy, Policy & Planning, Ministry of Energy |
Water |
|
CNY 5,80 |
M3 |
Thai Provincial Waterworks Authority |
By-products/Waste |
||||
Scrap |
7204 21 |
CNY 8,80 |
KG |
GTA |
3.1.2.2.3.1. Raw materials
3.1.2.2.3.2. By-products
3.1.2.2.3.3. Labour
3.1.2.2.3.4. Energy/utilities
3.1.2.2.3.5. Other direct costs
3.1.2.2.4.
Manufacturing overhead costs, SG&A costs, profits and depreciation
3.1.2.2.5.
Calculation of the normal value
3.1.2.3.
Export price
3.1.2.4.
Comparison and dumping margins
3.1.3.
Likelihood of continuation of dumping
3.1.3.1.
Production capacity and spare capacity in the PRC
3.1.3.2.
Attractiveness of the Union market
3.1.3.3.
Conclusion on the likelihood of continuation of dumping
3.2.
Taiwan
3.2.1.
Preliminary remarks
3.2.2.
Continuation of dumping during the review investigation period
3.2.2.1.
Normal value
3.2.2.2.
Export price
3.2.2.3.
Comparison and dumping margin
3.2.3.
Likelihood of continuation of dumping should measures be repealed
3.2.3.1.
Exports to third countries
(a)
Normal value
(b)
Export price
(c)
Comparison and dumping margin
3.2.3.2.
Production capacity and spare capacity in Taiwan
3.2.3.3.
Attractiveness of the Union market
3.2.3.4.
Conclusion on the likelihood of continuation of dumping
4.
INJURY
4.1.
Definition of the Union industry and Union production
4.2.
Union consumption
|
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
RIP |
Total Union consumption |
11 323 |
12 165 |
11 283 |
12 819 |
Index (2018 = 100) |
100 |
107 |
100 |
113 |
Source: Eurostat, applicant. |
4.3.
Imports from the countries concerned
4.3.1.
Volume and market share of the imports from the countries concerned
|
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
RIP |
Volume of imports from the PRC (tonnes) |
523 |
693 |
708 |
719 |
Index (2018 = 100) |
100 |
133 |
135 |
138 |
Market share of imports from the PRC |
4,6 % |
5,7 % |
6,3 % |
5,6 % |
Index (2018 = 100) |
100 |
123 |
136 |
121 |
Volume of imports from Taiwan (tonnes) |
240 |
337 |
330 |
203 |
Index (2018 = 100) |
100 |
140 |
137 |
84 |
Market share of imports from the Taiwan |
2,1 % |
2,8 % |
2,9 % |
1,6 % |
Index (2018 = 100) |
100 |
131 |
138 |
75 |
Volume of imports from the countries concerned (tonnes) |
763 |
1 030 |
1 038 |
922 |
Index (2018 = 100) |
100 |
135 |
136 |
121 |
Market share of imports from the countries concerned (%) |
6,7 % |
8,5 % |
9,2 % |
7,2 % |
Index (2018 = 100) |
100 |
126 |
136 |
107 |
Source: Eurostat. |
4.3.2.
Prices of the imports from the countries concerned and price undercutting
4.3.2.1.
Prices
|
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
RIP |
PRC |
6 707 |
7 830 |
7 271 |
7 557 |
Index (2018 = 100) |
100 |
117 |
108 |
113 |
Taiwan |
[6 300 – 6 900 ] |
[6 300 – 6 900 ] |
[5 700 – 6 300 ] |
[6 900 – 7 900 ] |
Index (2018 = 100) |
100 |
100 |
91 |
111 |
Countries concerned |
[6 300 – 6 900 ] |
[6 900 – 7 900 ] |
[6 300 – 6 900 ] |
[6 900 – 7 900 ] |
Index (2018 = 100) |
100 |
112 |
103 |
114 |
Source: Eurostat, questionnaire reply of Ta Chen. |
4.3.2.2.
Price undercutting
4.3.3.
PRC
4.3.4.
Taiwan
4.4.
Volumes and prices of imports from third countries
Country |
|
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
RIP |
Malaysia |
Import volume (tonnes) |
1 120 |
1 414 |
1 290 |
1 626 |
|
Index (2018 = 100) |
100 |
126 |
115 |
145 |
|
Market share |
9,9 % |
11,6 % |
11,4 % |
12,7 % |
|
Index (2018 = 100) |
100 |
118 |
116 |
128 |
|
Average price (EUR/tonne) |
6 872 |
6 878 |
6 263 |
6 327 |
|
Index (2018 = 100) |
100 |
100 |
91 |
92 |
Switzerland |
Import volume (tonnes) |
1 737 |
2 040 |
1 459 |
1 113 |
|
Index (2018 = 100) |
100 |
117 |
84 |
64 |
|
Market share |
15,3 % |
16,8 % |
12,9 % |
8,7 % |
|
Index (2018 = 100) |
100 |
109 |
84 |
57 |
|
Average price (EUR/tonne) |
6 674 |
6 946 |
6 578 |
8 641 |
|
Index (2018 = 100) |
100 |
104 |
99 |
129 |
Thailand |
Import volume (tonnes) |
184 |
202 |
92 |
82 |
|
Index (2018 = 100) |
100 |
110 |
50 |
45 |
|
Market share |
1,6 % |
1,7 % |
0,8 % |
0,6 % |
|
Index (2018 = 100) |
100 |
102 |
50 |
40 |
|
Average price (EUR/tonne) |
27 305 |
26 382 |
31 507 |
37 802 |
|
Index (2018 = 100) |
100 |
97 |
115 |
138 |
Other third countries |
Import volume (tonnes) |
129 |
313 |
139 |
289 |
|
Index (2018 = 100) |
100 |
242 |
107 |
224 |
|
Market share |
1,1 % |
2,6 % |
1,2 % |
2,3 % |
|
Index (2018 = 100) |
100 |
226 |
108 |
198 |
|
Average price (EUR/tonne) |
18 903 |
10 247 |
16 271 |
11 877 |
|
Index (2018 = 100) |
100 |
54 |
86 |
63 |
Total imports excluding PRC and Taiwan |
Import volume (tonnes) |
3 170 |
3 969 |
2 979 |
3 110 |
|
Index (2018 = 100) |
100 |
125 |
94 |
98 |
|
Market share |
28,0 % |
32,6 % |
26,4 % |
24,3 % |
|
Index (2018 = 100) |
100 |
117 |
94 |
87 |
|
Average price (EUR/tonne) |
8 438 |
8 172 |
7 659 |
8 503 |
|
Index (2018 = 100) |
100 |
97 |
91 |
101 |
Source: Eurostat. |
4.5.
Economic situation of the Union industry
4.5.1.
General remarks
4.5.2.
Production, production capacity and capacity utilisation
|
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
RIP |
Production volume (tonnes) |
8 757 |
8 758 |
8 631 |
9 867 |
Index (2018 = 100) |
100 |
100 |
99 |
113 |
Production capacity (tonnes) |
17 979 |
17 903 |
17 972 |
18 724 |
Index (2018 = 100) |
100 |
100 |
100 |
104 |
Capacity utilisation (%) |
48,7 % |
48,9 % |
48 % |
52,7 % |
Index (2018 = 100) |
100 |
100 |
99 |
108 |
Source: Applicant. |
4.5.3.
Sales volume and market share
|
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
RIP |
Total sales volume on the Union market – unrelated customers |
7 390 |
7 166 |
7 266 |
8 787 |
Index (2018 = 100) |
100 |
97 |
98 |
119 |
Market share |
65,3 % |
58,9 % |
64,4 % |
68,5 % |
Index (2018 = 100) |
100 |
90 |
99 |
105 |
Source: Eurostat, applicant. |
4.5.4.
Growth
4.5.5.
Prices and factors affecting prices
|
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
RIP |
Weighted average unit sales price in the Union (Index, 2018 = 100) |
100 |
100 |
96 |
107 |
Unit cost of production (Index, 2018 = 100) |
100 |
110 |
100 |
108 |
Source: Sampled Union producers. |
4.5.6.
Employment and productivity
|
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
RIP |
Number of employees |
504 |
512 |
493 |
513 |
Index (2018 = 100) |
100 |
102 |
98 |
102 |
Labour productivity (tonne/employee) |
17 |
17 |
18 |
19 |
Index (2018 = 100) |
100 |
99 |
101 |
111 |
Average labour costs per employee (Index, 2018 = 100) |
100 |
100 |
101 |
111 |
Source: Applicant, sampled Union producers. |
4.5.7.
Inventories
|
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
RIP |
Closing stocks (ranges) |
[800 – 1 200 ] |
[800 – 1 200 ] |
[800 – 1 200 ] |
[800 – 1 200 ] |
Index (2018 = 100) |
100 |
90 |
103 |
85 |
Closing stocks as a percentage of production (ranges) |
[15 % –25 %] |
[15 % –25 %] |
[15 % –25 %] |
[15 % –25 %] |
Index (2018 = 100) |
100 |
91 |
102 |
78 |
Source: Sampled Union producers. |
4.5.8.
Profitability, cash flow, investments, return on investments and ability to raise capital
|
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
RIP |
Profitability (Index, 2018 = 100) |
100 |
60 |
53 |
97 |
Profitability of sales in the Union to unrelated customers (% of sales turnover – ranges) |
[10 % –15 %] |
[5 % –10 %] |
[5 % –10 %] |
[10 % –15 %] |
Cash flow (Index, 2018 = 100) |
100 |
124 |
85 |
176 |
Investments (Index, 2018 = 100) |
100 |
68 |
75 |
53 |
Return on investments (Index, 2018 = 100) |
100 |
59 |
56 |
110 |
Source: Sampled Union producers. |
4.5.9.
Ability to raise capital
4.5.10.
Magnitude of the dumping margin and recovery from past dumping
4.5.11.
Export performance of the Union industry
|
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
RIP |
Export volume (tonnes) |
1 326 |
1 445 |
1 188 |
1 303 |
Index (2018 = 100) |
100 |
109 |
90 |
98 |
Average price (index, 2018 = 100) |
100 |
101 |
100 |
103 |
Source: Applicant, sampled Union producers. |
4.5.12.
Conclusion on the situation of the Union industry
5.
LIKELIHOOD OF RECURRENCE OF INJURY IF THE MEASURES WERE TO BE REPEALED
6.
UNION INTEREST
6.1.
Introduction
6.2.
Interest of the Union industry
6.3.
Interest of unrelated importers and users
6.4.
Conclusion on Union interest
7.
ANTI-DUMPING MEASURES
Article 1
Company |
Definitive anti-dumping duty rate (%) |
TARIC additional code |
Taiwan |
||
|
|
|
Ta Chen Stainless Pipes Co., Ltd. |
5,1 |
C176 |
All other companies |
12,1 |
C999 |
The People’s Republic of China |
||
Zhejiang Good Fittings Co., Ltd. |
55,3 |
C177 |
Zhejiang Jnda Pipeline Industry Co., Ltd. |
48,9 |
C178 |
Suzhou Yuli Pipeline Industry Co., Ltd. |
30,7 |
C179 |
Jiangsu Judd Pipeline Industry Co., Ltd. |
30,7 |
C180 |
All other cooperating (not sampled) companies: |
||
Alfa Laval Flow Equipment (Kunshan) Co., Ltd. |
41,9 |
C182 |
Kunshan Kinglai Hygienic Materials Co., Ltd. |
41,9 |
C184 |
Wifang Huoda Pipe Fittings Manufacture Co., Ltd. |
41,9 |
C186 |
Yada Piping Solutions Co., Ltd. |
41,9 |
C187 |
Jiangsu Huayang Metal Pipes Co., Ltd. |
41,9 |
C188 |
All other companies |
64,9 |
C999 |
Country |
Company |
TARIC additional code |
Malaysia |
Pantech Stainless And Alloy Industries Sdn. Bhd. |
A021 |
Malaysia |
SP United Industry Sdn. Bhd. |
A022 |