Brazil will not impose definite anti-dumping (AD) duties over the Chinese imports of both steel and iron rolling mill rollers, the nation’s ministry of industry, foreign trade and services, MDIC, said on Monday.
Earlier this year, MDIC commenced a probe into the imports of the product, following a request on October 2017 from local producer Gerdau Summit, a joint venture (JV) between Brazilian integrated steelmaker Gerdau, Sumitomo and The Japan Steel Works (JSW).
The products subject to MDIC’s probe fall under Mercosur HTS codes 8455.30.10 and 8455.30.90.
Commenting on its recommendation to not impose AD duties, MDIC said it did not find “policies” or evident dumping practices in the sales of steel and iron rolling-mill rollers by Chinese exporters. MDIC said the imports of the product did not harm Brazil’s domestic industry.
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.
It will produce parts for the wind power, sugar and ethanol and oleo and gas industries. It will also attend the mining segment. 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.