Egyptian Ezz Steel to challenge EU anti-dumping duties on hot-rolled steel

Egyptian steelmaker Ezz Steel plans to challenge the European Commission’s provisional anti-dumping duty of 15.6% on all imports of hot-rolled flat products from the country. This is reported by Fastmarkets.

Last week, the EC announced a preliminary decision that imports of hot-rolled flat products from Egypt, Vietnam and Japan will be subject to provisional duties of 6.9-33%. India was exempted from this as the investigation did not reveal any dumping or unfair exports from this country during the period under review. The provisional tariffs will take effect on April 7 this year.

Ezz Steel is a major exporter of hot-rolled steel products to the European market. The company intends to appeal against the provisional duties, and a delegation from the Egyptian Ministry of Investment is expected to meet with EU representatives to discuss the issue.

Steel producers in various countries subject to provisional duties have until April 4 to file their objections.

According to one market participant, Ezz Steel’s exports to Europe account for 60-70% of the company’s total shipments abroad, and if the European tariffs come into effect, it will seriously hit the Egyptian producer. Therefore, the information that the company will appeal the result will help put pressure on the EC and reassure customers in Europe, the source added.

The final decision on any permanent anti-dumping measures will be announced by the European Commission on October 7.

As GMK Center reported earlier, the investigation into hot-rolled steel products from four countries was initiated in August 2024 and covered the period from April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024. In October last year, the EC started the process of registering imports of hot-rolled steel from the four countries for a period of 9 months, which will allow for retroactive anti-dumping duties if necessary. The procedure came into force on October 26.