Argentina imposes anti-dumping duties of 39.6% to 98% on imports of coated woodfree paper and paperboard from the U.S., Finland, Austria and China for five years starting June 21, after investigating complaint from Argentine papermaker Ledesma

Sandy Yang

LOS ANGELES , July 4, 2012 (Industry Intelligence Inc.) –

Argentine imports of coated woodfree paper (CWF) and paperboard from the U.S., Finland, Austria and China will carry antidumping duties for five years from June 21, based on action from the country’s Ministry of Economy and Public Finance, reported EUWID-Paper on July 4.

The anti-dumping duties that are as high as 98% were imposed as a result of an investigation by the Argentine National Foreign Trade Commission, launched in December 2010 as a result of complaints by Argentine papermaker Ledesma.

The company’s domestic market share declined to 19% in 2010 from 23% in 2009, and its prices and profits fell accordingly, although its production increased to about 33,000 tonnes per year, according to the ministry, EUWID-Paper reported.

Unfair competition for local manufacturers was caused by CWF imports from the U.S., Korea, Finland, Austria and China being sold at dumped prices on the Argentine market, the investigation concluded.

Duties apply to one and two-side coated paper and paperboard grades in reels and in sheets, with basis weights of 80 to 200 grams per square meter and below 15 centimeters in width.

The levies amount to 39.56% for imports from China, 63.51% for imports from the U.S., 91% for imports from Finland and 98% for imports from Austria, and are based on FOB prices ad valorem, reported EUWID-Paper.

Ledesma has a paper mill in the capital city of San Luis, Argentina, that produces about 30,000 tonnes/year of paper for labels, packages, magazines, books, brochures and advertising materials. Its output accounts for nearly 25% of the local lightweight coated paper market, according to Ledesma’s website.

The primary source of this article is EUWID-Paper, Gernsbach, Germany, on July 4, 2012.
 

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