NEWS RELEASES - 1999
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: |
Meg Mullery |
202.342.8439 |
UPWARD TREND IN SPECIALTY STEEL IMPORTS
(Washington, D.C.) - Specialty steel imports in May 1999 were 81,792 tons, a 47% increase from January 1999 when total specialty steel imports were at 55,503 tons, according to the latest available data released today by the Specialty Steel Industry of North America (SSINA). Although the data reflect that cumulative imports between January and May 1999 decreased in most specialty steel product lines compared to the same period last year, industry executives are carefully monitoring this year's upward trend for signs of circumvention of antidumping orders and other unfair trading activities.
The data further reflect, comparing January to May 1999 with the same period last year for individual stainless steel product lines, that unfair trade cases filed by the industry over the past two years are starting to have a positive effect resulting from government remedies imposed on illegal dumped and subsidized imports. The most recent action on the trade cases filed to date occurred July 7, 1999, when the International Trade Commission ruled affirmatively that imports of stainless steel sheet and strip from eight countries injured the domestic industry, triggering the collection of antidumping and countervailing duties ranging up to 59%. (See attached Status of Unfair Trade cases for additional information.)
The tonnage and import percentages for year-to-date May 1999 compared to the same 1998 period for all specialty steel product lines are as follows: stainless sheet and strip, down 1% to 164,386 from 166,355 tons; stainless plate, down 16% to 23,426 from 27,922 tons; stainless bar, down 28% to 29,901 from 41,430 tons; stainless rod, down 15% to 23,025 from 27,031 tons; stainless wire, down 33% to 8,794 from 13,234 tons; alloy tool steel, up 6% to 31,227 from 29,400; and electrical steel, down 6% to 45,732 from 48,877 tons. Total specialty steel imports dropped 8% to 326,492 from 354,249 tons. (See attached imports, consumption and market penetration statistical data.)
The Specialty Steel Industry of North America is a Washington, D.C. based trade association representing virtually all continental producers of stainless steel and alloy tool steels, electrical steels, super alloy, and other high technology metals.
David A. Hartquist, an international trade attorney with the Washington, D.C. law firm of Collier, Shannon, Rill & Scott, pllc, serves as lead counsel to SSINA.
U.S.
Imports, Consumption and Market Penetration Data*
For Specialty Steel Product Lines
1999/1998/1997
(Short Tons)
|
|
|
Five Month Import |
|||
|
Imports |
U.S. Consumption |
Penetration |
|||
Specialty Steel |
YTD |
Percent |
YTD |
Percent |
YTD |
YTD |
Product Lines |
May |
Increase/ |
May |
Increase/ |
May |
May |
|
1999 |
Decrease |
1999 |
Decrease |
1999 |
1998 |
Stainless Sheet/Strip |
164,386 |
-1% |
757,844 |
-4% |
22% |
21% |
Stainless Plate |
23,426 |
-16% |
95,389 |
-23% |
25% |
23% |
Stainless Bar |
29,901 |
-28% |
84,224 |
-23% |
36% |
38% |
Stainless Rod |
23,025 |
-15% |
35,891 |
-14% |
64% |
65% |
Stainless Wire** |
8,794 |
-34% |
30,839 |
-25% |
29% |
32% |
Total
Stainless Steel*** |
249,533 |
-10% |
1,004,187 |
-9% |
25% |
25% |
Tool Steel |
31,227 |
6% |
48,138 |
-0% |
65% |
61% |
Electrical Steel |
45,732 |
-6% |
205,620 |
-8% |
22% |
22% |
Total Specialty Steel |
326,492 |
-8% |
1,257,946 |
-9% |
26% |
26% |
1998 and 1997 stastical data in tons follow:
|
Imports |
U.S. Consumption |
Import Penetration |
|||
|
|
Percent |
|
Percent |
|
|
Specialty Steel |
1998 |
Increase/ |
1998 |
Increase/ |
1998 |
1997 |
Product Lines |
|
Decrease |
|
Decrease |
|
|
Stainless Sheet/Strip |
416,740 |
15% |
1,822,225 |
5% |
23% |
21% |
Stainless Plate |
56,572 |
-7% |
264,851 |
-6% |
21% |
21% |
Stainless Bar |
94,306 |
3% |
237,469 |
-6% |
40% |
36% |
Stainless Rod |
61,988 |
-23% |
90,403 |
-20% |
69% |
72% |
Stainless Wire** |
30,572 |
2% |
47,453 |
0% |
64% |
63% |
Total
Stainless Steel*** |
660,178 |
6% |
2,462,400 |
1% |
27% |
26% |
Tool Steel |
67,893 |
11% |
107,816 |
-2% |
63% |
56% |
Electrical Steel |
124,754 |
12% |
517,368 |
0% |
24% |
22% |
Total Specialty Steel |
852,826 |
7% |
3,087,584 |
1% |
28% |
26% |
NOTE: |
Changes in import penetration are percentage point changes. |
* |
Imports adjusted to exclude hot bands imported for re-rolling and reported under shipments. |
** |
Shipments estimated and subject to revision when actual data is received. |
*** |
Shipment and consumption data for these categories may be overstated due to the inclusion of shipment from wire redrawers which are already included in shipments/imports of rod; consequently import penetration may be slightly understated. |
|
YTD 1999 and 1998 data reflect change in methodology for wire import penetration calculation. |
Stainless
Steel Producers and Unions
Status of Unfair Trade Cases by Major Product Line Filed in 1997 and 1998
Product |
Stainless Steel Rod |
Date Filed |
July 30, 1997 |
Named Countries |
Italy, Germany, Japan, Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan |
Status |
The case concluded with the issuance of final antidumping and countervailing duty (CVD) orders by the Commerce Department on 9/15/98. The duties range up to 34%, with penalties extending back to 3/5/98. The International Trade Commission (ITC) voted on final injury determination on 9/1/98. Excluding Germany, ITC concluded that imports from six of the seven named countries caused injury to producers. |
Next Step |
On 10/15/98, appeals were filed with Court of International Trade. Successful appeals would result in a significant increase in the antidumping duties levied on imports from Korea and the assessment of antidumping duties on imports from Germany. The industry will vigorously pursue the appeals process with the hope of a decision by yearend 1999. |
|
|
Product |
Stainless Steel Round Wire |
Date Filed |
March 27, 1998 |
Named Countries |
Canada, India, Japan, Korea, Spain, Taiwan |
Status |
On 6/4/98, the ITC preliminarily determined that imports from the named countries are injuring the domestic industry. On 11/13/98, Commerce set preliminary antidumping duties ranging up to 36% on imports from the subject countries. On April 5, final antidumping duties ranging up to 36% were announced by Commerce. |
Case Concludes |
On 5/10/99, The ITC voted against injury. To date, no decision has been made on appealing the ITC determination. |
|
|
Product |
Stainless Steel Plate in Coils |
Date Filed |
March 31, 1998 |
Named Countries |
Belgium, Canada, Italy, South Korea, South Africa, Taiwan |
Status |
On 5/15/98, the ITC voted preliminarily that imports from the named countries are injuring the domestic industry. On 9/1/98, Commerce issued preliminary CVD determinations against Korea, Italy, Belgium, and South Africa ranging up to 15%. On 10/27/98, Commerce announced preliminary antidumping duties ranging up to 68% on imports from the six named countries. Subsequently, on 12/3/98, Commerce published a revised preliminary determination on imports from Taiwan and took the extremely unusual step of finding that Taiwanese producer Ta Chen Stainless Pipe and its U.S. subsidiary, Ta Chen International, engaged in "middleman dumping" of coiled stainless steel plate produced by Yieh United Steel Corp. On March 22, 1999, Commerce issued final antidumping duties ranging between 7% and 45% and countervailing duties ranging between 2% and 15%. |
Case Concludes |
On 4/22/99, the ITC voted unanimously in favor of injury. Antidumping and CVD orders have been issued. |
|
|
Product |
Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip in Coils |
Date Filed |
June 10, 1998 |
Named Countries |
France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, Taiwan, United Kingdom |
Status |
On 7/24/98, the ITC voted preliminarily that imports from the named countries are injuring the domestic industry. On 10/30/98, U.S. producers requested that Commerce apply the "critical circumstances" provision of U.S. trade laws to combat recent import surges. An affirmative finding would impose antidumping duties retroactively to 9/18/98. On 11/10/98, Commerce announced preliminary CVD rates ranging up to 29% against France, Italy and South Korea. On 12/18/98, Commerce announced preliminary antidumping duty margins ranging up to 59%; and decided favorably on "critical circumstances" as to Germany, Japan (Nippon Metals, Nippon Yakin, and Nisshin only) and Korea (Taihan Electric Wire Co. only). "Critical circumstances" were not found for Italy and Taiwan. |
Case Concludes |
On 5/20/99, Commerce announced final antidumping and CVD duties ranging up to 60%. On 7/7/99, the ITC voted affirmatively in favor of injury. Antidumping and CVD orders have been issued. |
