Steel Markets

Traders Preparing for Dumping Suits on Cold Rolled and Coated
Written by John Packard
July 29, 2014
We have reported previously that the domestic steel industry has been preparing for possible dumping suits on flat rolled products. The countries named most often are all located in Asia with China, India, Taiwan and South Korea as being those countries named most often and likely to be affected by any new dumping suits.
A number of trading companies have suspended quoting foreign imports out of China for fear they will become entangled in any new trade cases.
This morning a large service center told us on a conference call that traders are warning potential buyers of foreign steel that they may be liable for any duties should trade cases be filed and critical circumstances come into play. In normal circumstances duties are paid by the importer of record (normally the trading company or original producing mill).
We have seen new documents which suggest that the trading companies have enlisted the help of their attorneys in order to be proactive and to anticipate what may happen should a dumping suit be filed. In one scenario seen by Steel Market Update the attorneys have prepared a timeline should new suits be filed on August 1st (hypothetical date) and what would transpire after that date.
One of the key concerns for trading companies is if the US Department of Commerce instructs the CBP to collect any estimated anti-dumping (AD) or countervailing (CVD) duties on imports made during the 90-day period covered by critical circumstances. Coming up with the funds to cover such cash deposits can be a tremendous burden on importers even though the deposits are likely to be eventually refunded should the ITC ultimately rule in favor of the foreign imports.
One trader told us today that there are some Chinese offers available for September shipment. However, any shipments after that point in time would fall within the “danger zone.”
The following table is a mock-up of what one group believes the timeline could be if there were dumping suits filed on August 1, 2014. This is an example and not reality as there have been no suits filed on cold rolled or coated steels at this point in time.

John Packard
Read more from John PackardLatest in Steel Markets

Trading firms Mercuria and Tata International partner in joint venture
Geneva-based global commodities trader Mercuria is set to acquire a majority stake in Tata International, according to a report in India's Economic Times.
Glenfarne Alaska LNG and POSCO ink preliminary partnership
Glenfarne Alaska LNG and POSCO signed a preliminary strategic agreement during the GasTech Conference in Milan on Thursday.

Steel export volumes remain weak through July
Following a 3% decline in June, the amount of steel shipped outside of the US edged up 1% in July to 623,000 short tons. July was the sixth-lowest monthly export rate since the COVID-19 pandemic, and...

Hot-rolled market participants say ‘doldrums’ to roll on through year-end
Participants in the hot-rolled steel sheet market expect the market to remain subdued through the end of the year.

Market says cutting interest rates will spur stalled domestic plate demand
Market sources say demand for domestic plate refuses to budge despite stagnating prices.