The Indian Ministry of Finance has taken decisive action to protect its domestic steel industry by implementing anti-dumping duties on welded stainless-steel pipes and tubes imported from Thailand and Vietnam. The measure, announced through Notification No. 23/2024-Customs (ADD) dated November 4, 2024, comes in response to findings of price dumping that has adversely affected local manufacturers.
The Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) conducted a comprehensive investigation covering the period from April 2022 to March 2023, which revealed significant price dumping practices by exporters from these Asian nations. The investigation was initiated following complaints from prominent industry bodies, including the Delhi-based Stainless Steel Pipe and Tubes Manufacturer Association and its Gujarat counterpart, representing a substantial portion of India's domestic production capacity.
The new tariff structure implements varying duties based on the country of origin and specific producers. Thai manufacturers, with the exception of I Stainless Steel Co Ltd, face a duty of $246 per metric ton, while Vietnamese producers, excluding Sonha SSP and Steel 568 Co., must pay $307 per metric ton. These duties will remain in effect for five years, providing long-term protection to domestic manufacturers.
The investigation process was notably comprehensive, with participation from approximately 40 domestic producers who collectively account for 50% of India's stainless steel pipe and tube production. This broad participation helped establish a clear picture of the industry's challenges and the impact of dumped imports on local manufacturers.
Foreign producers attempted to contest the investigation by arguing that certain products, specifically those certified by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers: Bioprocessing Equipment, ASME-BPE, should be excluded from the investigation's scope due to their unavailability in India. However, this argument did not prevent the implementation of the anti-dumping measures.
