core sector communique

China dumps massively organic coated steel on EU market

EUROFER initiates Anti-Dumping complaint at the European Commission

EUROFER filed an anti-dumping complaint with the European Commission providing evidence that imports of organic coated steel from China are sold at dumped prices and cause significant injury to the EU steel industry.

“Over the past four years imports from China into the EU increased dramatically, despite the drop in EU consumption. As a result of this, the EU industry lost sales and market share forcing it to cut back on production and to reduce capacity”, says Gordon Moffat, EUROFER’s director general.

The EU market share of organic coated steel from China has increased from 0.5% in 2004 to 15% over the last 12 months, with imports at their highest ever level in the second and third quarters of 2011. The imports were sold at prices significantly below prices of EU producers and prices from other third countries.

The product covered by the complaint is organic coated steel, consisting of pre-painted sheet and plastic coated sheet, which are composite materials made up of a metallic substrate and an organic coating which adhere together firmly and complement each other in their properties.

Represented by EUROFER, the European steel industry is a world leader in its sector with a turnover of EUR 190 billion and direct employment of 360 thousand highly skilled people, producing on average 200 million tonnes of steel per year. More than 500 steel production and processing sites in 23 EU member states provide direct and indirect employment and a living for millions of European citizens.

The European steel industry is the backbone of Europe’s prosperity and an indispensable part of the European supply chain, developing and manufacturing in Europe thousands of different, innovative steel solutions. The European steel industry provides the foundation for innovation, durability, CO2 reductions and energy savings in applications as varied and vital as automotive, construction, machinery, household goods, medical devices, and wind mills.

Steel is 100% recyclable, it can be recycled over and over again without loss of properties. All the steel in collected end-of-life products is recycled, irrespective of the percentage of steel in the products. Steel therefore contributes significantly to the long-term conservation of the fundamental resources for future generations. About 45% of the total EU steel production is recycled steel scrap.