Tubacero’s Monterrey Interport plant has continued its nearly three-month shutdown, after opening in February 2014 with an investment of US$90 million, and company representatives are unclear how long the stoppage will go on.
The company blames unfair competition from imports from India and China for the shutdown, along with the delay of implementation of public infrastructure projects. Originally staffed with 1,200 employees, the plant is down to 280, which the company is retaining for training purposes.
However, the company expects the emergence of new orders once trade remedies are enacted.
"Hopefully in about four weeks, we will hear news of new defensive measures against unfair imports promised by the Ministry of Economy (SE),” said Teodoro Gonzalez Garza, director of the Company. “We do not want subsidies, just to compete on level ground against producers in other countries who have them.”
Gonzalez said the agency granted an investigation request into steel pipe from China and India in late 2014, but no results have been found as of yet.