STEEL NEWS

EU extends duties on steel pipes from Russia, Belarus and China for 5 years

According to Reuters, the European Union has extended tariffs on imports of cast iron and steel welded pipes from Belarus, China and Russia for five years, stating that they are being sold at unjustifiably low prices.

The European Commission, which oversees the trade policies of the 27 EU countries, said on Monday in the official EU magazine that duties ranging from 10.1% to 90.6% would continue to apply.

Chinese manufacturers, including Zhejiang Kingland, have the highest rate at 90.6%. The rate for producers in Belarus is 38.1%, while the Russian OMK and TMK groups pay 10.1% and 16.8%, respectively. For other Russian companies, for example, PJSC Severstal, the tariff is 20.5%.

The tariffs, introduced since 2008, follow a complaint from a group representing 50% of EU products. The investigation cites ArcelorMittal, Spain's Celsa Atlantic and Italy's Arvedi Tube Acciaio as EU producers.

The Commission concluded that China, Belarus and Russia have significant spare production capacity and that dumping is likely if the measures are lifted.

Each of the three countries currently holds less than 0.5% of the EU market. In 2006/2007, their combined market share was 18.7%. Turkey, whose producers are not subject to duties, has 28% of the EU market.