Brazil’s economy minister has ended an anti-dumping (AD) investigation and declined to impose AD duties on imports of Chinese steel and iron rolling-mill rollers, citing no evidence that the imports would harm the local industry.
The decision follows a request from local producer Gerdau Summit, a joint venture between Brazilian integrated steelmaker Gerdau, Sumitomo and The Japan Steel Works.
Gerdau Summit first made its request in 2017. Last year, the Brazilian government started an investigation, which was ended in June this year, with no recommendation of AD duties.
Gerdau Summit inaugurated a plant last year in the Brazilian city of Pindamonhangaba, in the state of Sao Paulo. The JV said at the time it would invest a combined BRL 280 million at the plant. Gerdau Summit is expected to have a 50,000 mt/year capacity, producing parts for the wind power, sugar, ethanol, oleo and gas industries. Production of parts for the wind sector is set to start early this year.
Gerdau Summit is already producing forged parts for the country’s sugar and ethanol sector as well as cylinders for the local steel and aluminum industries. Gerdau owns a 59 percent stake in the JV, while Sumitomo and JSW own the remaining 39 and 2 percent stakes, respectively.
The products under investigation fall under the Mercosur HS codes 8455.30.10 and 8455.30.90.