KUALA LUMPUR (March 29): Cold rolled coils of iron or non-alloy steel (CRC) have become a contentious matter again, as the government announced today that it is initiating an anti-dumping investigation into imports of CRCs measuring more than 1300m in width from China, Japan, South Korea and Vietnam.

The move stemmed from a petition from domestic producer Mycron Steel Sdn Bhd — a unit of Mycron Steel Bhd — to the MITI, requesting that an anti-dumping probe be conducted on such CRCs.

The petitioner claimed that imports of CRCs from China, Japan, South Korea and Vietnam are being dumped in Malaysia at a price much lower than their domestic price, and that such imports have increased in absolute quantity, harming the petitioner's business, according to MITI.

"The government has considered the prima facie evidence of dumping, injury and causal link and decided to initiate the anti-dumping investigation on imports of CRC of width more than 1300mm from the alleged countries.

"In accordance with the Countervailing and Anti-Dumping Duties Act 1993 and its related regulations, a preliminary determination will be made within 120 days from the date of initiation. If the preliminary determination is affirmative, the government will impose a provisional anti-dumping duty at the rate that is necessary to prevent further injury," MITI said.

This is not the first time that CRC producers have petitioned to look into the dumping of CRCs, claiming it would adversely affect the domestic sector. Last February, The Edge Malaysia wrote that the dumping of CRC was understood to have accelerated between last August and January this year.

Three of the main local CRC players — Mycron, CSC Steel Holdings Bhd and YKGI Holdings Bhd — had written to MITI at the time to seek assistance and asked for measures to be taken. 

In its statement today, MITI said it will provide a set of questionnaires to interested parties — importers, foreign producers, exporters and associations — in connection with its investigation, and that other interested parties may request for a set of the same, no later than April 12, 2019. 

“Interested parties may also provide additional supporting evidence to MITI on, or before, April 27, 2019. In the event no additional information is received within the specified period, the government will make its preliminary findings based on the available facts,” it added.