Indian manufacturers of stainless steel pipes and tubes have sought antidumping (AD) duties on imports, particularly on shipments from China and Vietnam, an official at the Stainless Steel Pipes and Tubes Manufacturers’ Association said on Thursday, August 10.
The official said that stainless steel pipe and tube imports during April-June 2017 have been estimated at 17,811 mt, up 62 percent over the corresponding period of the previous year. He stated that total imports during the April-June 2017 period were equal to almost 50 percent of total domestic consumption of the products and, unless the government imposed AD duty to check imports, domestic manufacturers would have no market left for themselves.
According to the association, since India has a free trade agreement with Vietnam, stainless steel pipes and tubes are being imported into India with zero import duty, which provides importers with at least a 10 percent margin advantage over Indian manufacturers.
Although the official did not clarify whether an official AD petition has been filed before the Directorate General for Anti Dumping and Allied Duties, he said that the association will seek an AD duty rate in the range of 20-25 percent to check rising imports.