(1)

By Regulation (EC) No 1631/2005 ( 2 ) the Council imposed definitive anti-dumping measures consisting of individual duties ranging from 7,3 % to 40,5 % with a residual duty of 42,6 % ( 3 ) on imports of trichloroisocyanuric acid originating in the People’s Republic of China (PRC).

(2)

By Regulation (EC) No 855/2010 ( 4 ) the Council lowered the individual duty applied to one company from 14,1 % to 3,2 %.

(3)

Following the publication of a notice of impending expiry ( 5 ) of the definitive anti-dumping measures in force, on 6 July 2010 the Commission received a request for the initiation of an expiry review of these measures pursuant to Article 11(2) of the basic Regulation. The request was lodged by the European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC) on behalf of Union producers representing a major proportion, in this case more than 90 %, of the total Union production of trichloroisocyanuric acid (the applicants).

(4)

The request was based on the grounds that the expiry of the measures would be likely to result in a continuation or recurrence of dumping and injury to the Union industry.

(5)

Having determined, after consulting the Advisory Committee, that there was sufficient evidence for the initiation of an expiry review, on 6 October 2010 the Commission announced the initiation of such a review, pursuant to Article 11(2) of the basic Regulation, in a notice published in the Official Journal of the European Union ( 6 ) (the Notice of initiation).

(6)

The review investigation period (RIP) lasted from 1 July 2009 to 30 June 2010. The likelihood of continuation or recurrence of injury aspects was analysed during the period from 1 January 2007 to the end of the RIP (period considered).

(7)

The Commission officially advised the applicants, the other known Union producer, exporting producers, importers and users known to be concerned, as well as the representatives of the PRC, of the initiation of the expiry review.

(8)

Interested parties were given the opportunity to make their views known in writing and to request a hearing within the time limit set out in the Notice of initiation. All interested parties who requested a hearing and who showed that there were specific reasons why they should be heard, were granted a hearing.

(9)

In view of the apparently large number of exporting producers in the PRC and unrelated importers in the Union, sampling was envisaged for these parties in the notice of initiation, in accordance with Article 17 of the basic Regulation.

(10)

In order to enable the Commission to decide whether sampling would be necessary and, if so, to select a sample, the above parties were requested, pursuant to Article 17 of the basic Regulation, to make themselves known within 15 days of the publication of the notice of initiation and to provide the Commission with the information requested in the Notice of initiation.

(11)

None of the exporting producers in the PRC cooperated in the investigation.

(12)

As regards importers, a few companies initially came forward but then withdrew their cooperation at a later stage.

(13)

The Commission sent questionnaires to all the parties known to be concerned within the deadlines set in the Notice of initiation. Replies were received from the three known Union producers and from two users.

(14)

The Commission sought and verified all the information it deemed necessary with a view to determining the likelihood of continuation or recurrence of dumping and resulting injury and of the Union interest. Verification visits were carried out at the premises of the two major Union producers:

(15)

The product concerned by the current review is trichloroisocyanuric acid and preparations thereof (TCCA), also referred to as ‘symclosene’ under the international non-proprietary name (INN), currently falling within CN codes ex293369 80 and ex380894 20 (TARIC codes 2933698070 and 3808942020), and originating in the PRC.

(16)

TCCA is a chemical product used as a broad-spectrum organic chlorine disinfectant and bleacher, in particular used for disinfecting water in swimming pools. It is sold in the form of powder, granules, tablets or chips. All forms of TCCA and preparations thereof share the same basic characteristics (chemical composition) and properties (disinfectant), are all intended for similar use and are therefore considered as a single product.

(17)

The present investigation has confirmed that the product concerned, as manufactured and sold by exporting producers to the Union, is similar in terms of its physical and chemical characteristics, as well as its uses, to the product produced and sold by the Union producers on the Union market and by the producer in the analogue country on both its domestic and export markets. Hence, they are considered to be like products within the meaning of Article 1(4) of the basic Regulation.

(18)

In accordance with Article 11(2) of the basic Regulation, a review was held to determine whether the expiry of the existing measures was likely to lead to a continuation or recurrence of dumping.

(19)

As explained above, none of the 30 known exporting producers contacted came forward during the sampling exercise or made themselves known in the course of the investigation.

(20)

Since none of the exporting producers in the PRC cooperated, the findings on the likelihood of continuation or recurrence of dumping rely on facts available in accordance with Article 18 of the basic Regulation, namely Eurostat data, the review request and official PRC export statistics.

(21)

Additionally, data submitted by the cooperating exporting producer in the analogue country, Japan, were used to determine the normal value.

(22)

Since the PRC is an economy in transition and since, pursuant to Article 2(7)(a) of the basic Regulation, normal value has to be determined on the basis of the price or constructed normal value obtained in an appropriate market economy third country (the analogue country), or on the basis of the price from the analogue country to other countries, including the European Union, or where those cannot be determined, on any other reasonable basis, including the price actually paid or payable in the Union for the like product, duly adjusted if necessary to include a reasonable profit margin.

(23)

In its Notice of initiation the Commission announced that Japan had been used in the previous investigation as an appropriate market economy country for the purpose of establishing normal value in respect of the PRC and that it envisaged using Japan again for this purpose. In the course of the present review investigation, producers in other market economy countries such as the USA and Taiwan were also contacted, to seek their cooperation. However, cooperation was obtained only from one exporting producer in Japan.

(24)

It was therefore considered that Japan was an appropriate analogue country. In this connection, no comments or objections on the appropriateness of this country were received from interested parties.

(25)

Pursuant to Article 2(7) of the basic Regulation, normal value was established on the basis of the information received from the cooperating exporting producer in the analogue country, i.e. on the basis of prices paid or payable on the domestic market in Japan for like products which were found to be sold in the ordinary course of trade.

(26)

It was first established for the cooperating exporting producer in Japan whether its total domestic sales of the like product to independent customers were representative in accordance with Article 2(2) of the basic Regulation, i.e. whether they accounted for at least 5 % of the total export sales volume of the product concerned into the Union. Domestic sales of the cooperating exporting producer in Japan were found to be representative during the RIP.

(27)

Subsequently, domestic sales were examined to determine whether they were made in the ordinary course of trade (OCOT), in accordance with Article 2(4) of the basic Regulation.

(28)

Since all sales on the domestic market were considered to have been sold at a profit, normal value was based on the actual weighted average domestic price during the RIP.

(29)

In the absence of any cooperation from exporting producers in the PRC, the export price was established on the basis of Eurostat data.

(30)

The comparison between the weighted average normal value and the weighted average export price was made on an ex-works basis and at the same level of trade. In order to ensure a fair comparison between the normal value and the export price, account was taken, in accordance with Article 2(10) of the basic Regulation, of differences in factors which affect prices and price comparability. For this purpose, due allowance in the form of adjustments was made for differences in transport and insurance costs.

(31)

As provided for under Article 2(11) of the basic Regulation, the weighted average normal value was compared with the weighted average export price. Based on the above methodology, the dumping margin established amounts to 75 %.

(32)

In addition to analysing the existence of dumping during the RIP, the likelihood of the continuation of dumping was also investigated.

(33)

In this respect the following elements were analysed: the spare capacity available in the PRC, the attractiveness of the Union market for PRC exporting producers and their exports to third countries.

(34)

In the absence of other information concerning production capacity, the analysis was carried out in accordance with Article 18 of the basic Regulation on the basis of the information contained in the review request.

(35)

According to the review request, with rates below 40 % production capacity utilisation in the PRC remained low during the period considered. As a result of huge production capacity and low domestic demand, there appears to be more than 180 000 tonnes of spare capacity available in the PRC which could be exported. This compares to Union consumption of around 44 000 tonnes in the RIP.

(36)

The attractiveness of the Union market is reflected in the fact that the imposition of anti-dumping duties did not stop the expansion of PRC exports to the Union. Although during the period 2007-2009 import volumes were at a lower level compared to the investigation period of the original investigation that led to the imposition of the measures, import volumes in the RIP were above that level, reaching 22 696 tonnes.

(37)

Despite the increase in the average import price during the period considered, prices remained constantly below those of the Union industry.

(38)

The fact that PRC imports during the period considered increased during the RIP to a level that was higher than during the original investigation period shows that there is continued PRC interest in the Union market.

(39)

PRC export statistics were analysed with respect to PRC export volumes and prices to other third countries. According to these statistics, 24 % of exports from the PRC in 2010 were destined for the Union market. EU export prices at FOB level were slightly higher than export prices to the rest of the world. However, in the absence of cooperation or any data in the review request regarding exports to other third countries, it was not possible to compare those prices at CIF level with the average price of the Union industry. Nevertheless, the fact that export prices to third countries are on average lower than export prices to the Union can be seen as an indication that the Union market is an attractive market for PRC exporters and that exports would be likely to increase further in the absence of measures.

(40)

In view of the above findings, it can be concluded that exports from the PRC are still being dumped and that it is likely that dumping will continue on the Union market if the current anti-dumping measures are removed. Indeed, taking into account the existing spare capacity in the PRC and the attractiveness of the Union market, based on a comparison between export prices to the EU and those to third countries, it is likely that the volume of dumped PRC exports into the Union would increase substantially if measures were allowed to lapse.

(41)

The product concerned is manufactured within the Union by three companies. They are therefore deemed to constitute the Union industry within the meaning of Article 4(1) and Article 5(4) of the basic Regulation (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Union industry’).

(42)

Data were obtained from Eurostat statistics, the review request, the responses to the questionnaire and information gathered during the verification visits.

(43)

The economic indicators concerning production, capacity, utilisation rate of capacity, volume of sales, market share and employment refer to data supplied by the three Union producers. All the other indicators refer to data supplied by the applicants only, because of the limited cooperation of one of the Union producers that was not an applicant in the present review. Considering that the applicants represented around 90 % of Union production in the RIP, their data were deemed to be representative of the Union industry for the purposes of this review. Only the data obtained from the applicants were verified on the spot.

(44)

Data relating to the economic situation of the Union industry as well as consumption can only be provided in indexed form, so as to preserve confidentiality pursuant to Article 19 of the basic Regulation. This is because such economic indicators concern only two producers or, in some cases, three producers, one of them being only marginally active in the sector.

(45)

In June 2009, one of the applicants closed down one of its two plants, stopping production as of this date and laying off all employees. At first the plant in question was put on hold for a few months, but it closed down definitely in January 2010. This had some impact on a number of indicators such as consumption, production volume and productivity, as further explained below in recitals 47 and 62.

(46)

Union consumption was established on the basis of the sales volume of the three Union producers on the Union market and import data from Eurostat.

(47)

Between 2007 and 2009 Union consumption of TCCA decreased by 19 % before recovering in the RIP at a level exceeding by 6 % the one achieved in 2007. For the years 2008 and 2009 this trend can be explained by the combined effects of lower demand, due to the global economic crisis, and restricted supply, due to the closure of one production site in 2009 (see recital 45). The higher level of Union consumption achieved in the RIP is mainly linked to the recovery from the economic crisis and the increase of imports from the PRC.

(48)

Trends in the volumes and market shares of dumped imports from the PRC are set out below. The following quantity and market shares are based on Eurostat import statistics, since no PRC exporters/producers cooperated in this review.

(49)

Quantities of TCCA imported from the PRC decreased slightly in 2008 and 2009. This downturn in imports was followed by a significant increase in the RIP (more than 35 % as compared to 2009). In parallel, PRC imports continuously increased their market share during the period considered.

(50)

Prices of imports from the PRC have shown a steady increase of 11,3 %. On the one hand this trend can be attributed to the evolution of the prices of the main raw materials component that started to increase more substantially in 2009 and during the RIP. On the other hand, it may to a certain extent reflect a variation in the product mix ( 7 ).

(51)

Overall, the prices of PRC imports remained below the prices of the Union industry during the entire period. In determining the extent of price undercutting, the Commission based its calculation on the average CIF export prices of the PRC obtained from Eurostat. The prices of the product concerned were compared to the weighted average price of the Union industry adjusted to ex-works level. The comparison showed that imports from the PRC were undercutting the prices of the Union industry by more than 10 %, without taking into account the anti-dumping duty in place.

(52)

The volume and market shares of imports from other countries during the period considered are shown in the table below. The respective data is based on Eurostat figures:

(53)

In terms of volume and market share, imports from other third countries were negligible during the period considered. Imports from the USA, another country subject to an anti-dumping measure, stopped completely during the period considered.

(54)

Pursuant to Article 3(5) of the basic Regulation, the Commission examined all relevant economic factors and indices having a bearing on the state of the Union industry.

(55)

There was a serious decline in production from 2009 onwards following the global economic crisis and the closing down of one production facility in June 2009, when production from that plant stopped completely (see recital 45 above).

(56)

Production capacity followed the same trend as production during the period considered. Capacity utilisation, however, was positively influenced during the RIP by some process improvements.

(57)

As a result of the closure of one plant in the Union in 2009 (see recital 45 above), the data collected for the RIP is limited to the capacity of the remaining plant.

(58)

This indicator was based on the information supplied by the applicants, for the reasons explained in recital 54 above. The investigation at the company’s premises revealed some seasonal patterns in the consumption of TCCA, with the product concerned being used mostly in summer. This has an impact on the variation in the level of stocks throughout the year: stocks peak in winter time and are considerably reduced in the summer period. For the years 2007-2009 the figures represent the level of stocks on 31 December of the given year. The figure for the RIP, however, shows the level of stocks at 30 June 2010, the time of the year with the highest stock utilisation. Hence, this indicator does not allow for a proper comparison between the RIP and the rest of the period concerned and is therefore considered not to be relevant for assessing injury.

(59)

The economic crisis had a negative influence on the sales volume of the product concerned on the Union market. The increase during the RIP can be attributed mainly to the increase of Union consumption due to recovery from the recession after the economic crisis.

(60)

During the period considered the Union industry was unable to recover its market share, which decreased significantly over the period considered.

(61)

Employment in the sector decreased in the EU during the period considered, particularly following the closing down of one of the production facilities (see recital 45 above). As a result, wage costs at the Union industry level also went down. Average wages per employee remained relatively stable throughout the period considered.

(62)

The productivity of the Union industry’s workforce, measured as output per person employed per year, developed negatively over the period considered, showing a sharp decrease by around 20 % in 2009. This was a result of the reorganisation required by the closure of the production facilities, putting production on hold for 6 months in 2009 until the plant was closed down in January 2010 (see recital 45 above). Productivity then recovered during the RIP, although for the first semester it was partly influenced by the negative trends in 2009.

(63)

Average unit prices of TCCA in the EU (as shown in the table below) increased slightly between 2007 and 2009, returning to the 2007 level during the RIP. To some extent, the 2007-2009 increase is related to the product mix effect (see footnote 1 on page 10).

(64)

Profitability on sales of TCCA in the EU developed negatively from 2007 onwards, with a significant loss in 2009. This poor performance has to be seen in relation to the closure in that year of one production site by a Union producer. In the RIP, profitability did become slightly positive, although the profit level was far below the normal profit level (i.e. 10 % ( 8 )) that should be achieved in this sector of activity. This shows that the Union industry is still in a weak financial situation.

(65)

There was no major capital expenditure during the period considered. The indexed figures shown in the table present the investments made to improve productivity and the production process. The indexes for the return on investments follow the same trend as profitability.

(66)

Cash flow remained positive during the period considered, with the exception of the year 2009, when extra restructuring costs had to be covered due to the closing down of one of the production sites (see recital 45 above). The development of cash flow was in line with the development of profitability.

(67)

Dumping from the PRC continued during the RIP at a level significantly above the current level of measures. Moreover, given the spare capacity and prices of imports from the PRC, the impact on the Union industry of the actual margins of dumping cannot be considered to be negligible.

(68)

Anti-dumping measures were imposed in October 2005. Taking into account the overall situation of the Union industry as well as the imports from the PRC in the period from 2007 to RIP, it can be concluded that the Union industry has not recovered fully from these effects despite the anti-dumping measures in force.

(69)

Several injury indicators developed negatively during the period considered. Taking into account the overall worsening situation of the Union producers, the Union industry is considered to have suffered material injury over the period considered.

(70)

As set out in recital 49, imports of TCCA from the PRC grew significantly between 2007 and RIP, in terms of both volume and market share. Significant price undercutting was also found (see recital 51). The continuous massive inflow of dumped imports from the PRC occurred in a context of overall increasing Union consumption in the period considered, reaching in the RIP a level exceeding by 6 % the one achieved in 2007, despite a decrease between 2007 and 2009. As demonstrated by the worsening situation of the Union industry, it was mainly imports from the PRC that benefited from the increase in consumption.

(71)

The Commission analysed whether any known factors other than the dumped imports from the PRC could have had a bearing on the continued injury suffered by the Union producers.

(72)

In parallel with dumped imports from the PRC, it is likely that the reduced performance of the Union industry on third markets, where it also faced PRC competition, and on the US market in particular, had a negative impact on the Union production. However, most of the activity of the Union producers is devoted to the Union market, limiting to some extent the potential impact of reduced exports.

(73)

The economic crisis also had a negative impact on the performance of the Union industry, leading to a decrease in production and the restructuring of one of the Union producers. Nonetheless, the impact of the economic crisis was limited in time (part of 2008 and 2009), while the economic situation of the Union industry continued to deteriorate throughout the period considered. Moreover, developments in the RIP show that the Union industry did start to recover partially. It can therefore be considered that the impact of the economic crisis was not insignificant in this case, although it did not break the causal link between dumped imports from the PRC and the injury suffered by the Union industry.

(74)

The continued dumping of imports from the PRC along with the economic crisis altered the recovery process and accentuated the difficulties of the Union industry. Although other factors contributed to the deterioration in the performance of the Union industry, none of them proved to be sufficient to break the causal link between dumped imports from the PRC and the injury suffered by the Union industry. On these grounds, it may be concluded that dumped imports from the PRC have caused material injury to the Union industry.

(75)

In accordance with Article 11(2) of the basic Regulation, imports from the country concerned were assessed in order to establish if there was a likelihood of continuation of injury.

(76)

With regard to the likely effect on the Union industry of the expiry of the measures in force, the following factors were taken into account in line with the elements summarised above regarding the likelihood of the continuation of dumping.

(77)

Imports of TCCA from the PRC, representing approximately 98 % of all imports to the EU, continued to gain market share during the period considered, reaching over 50 % during the RIP. The investigation revealed that these imports were made at dumped prices with a substantial dumping margin. Moreover, the prices of PRC imports remained steadily below the Union industry prices during the entire period, undercutting the Union prices by over 10 % (without taking into account the measures in force).

(78)

As mentioned in recitals 34 and 35, the analysis of available capacities in the PRC showed that production capacity utilisation remained low during the period considered. The estimated excess production capacity was found to be more than three times higher than in the Union market. At the same time, according to the information received in the review request, there was only a limited market for the product concerned in the PRC.

(79)

In the light of growing import trends and available spare capacities in the PRC, the EU is likely to attract further imports from the PRC in the future. The fact that the Union market is attractive for PRC exporters is demonstrated by the developments in 2009, when the production shortage in the EU, which was caused by the restructuring of the sector, was partially met by extra imports from the PRC.

(80)

This situation may be further exacerbated by the fact that, in the US market, the existing anti-dumping measures on TCCA from the PRC have recently been extended. It is therefore to be expected that the expiry of the AD-measure in the EU would make the Union market comparatively more attractive.

(81)

The Union industry had been suffering from the effects of PRC dumped imports for several years and is still in a precarious economic situation.

(82)

As established above, the investigation revealed that the injurious situation of the Union industry has continued throughout the period considered. According to Article 11(2) of the basic Regulation, the continuation of injury is in itself a strong indicator that the injury is likely to continue in the future, which would suggest that the measures should be maintained.

(83)

Given the spare capacity available in the PRC and the attractiveness of the Union market, if the measures are lifted the growing trend whereby large imports from the PRC at dumped prices significantly undercut Union producers’ prices is likely to continue.

(84)

If the measures in force are not extended, the situation of the Union industry would deteriorate and its very existence would be jeopardised. Therefore, it can be concluded that there is a clear likelihood of continuation of injury to the Union industry, should existing measures be removed.

(85)

Pursuant to Article 21 of the basic Regulation, it was necessary to examine whether the maintenance of existing anti-dumping measures would be against the interest of the Union as a whole. Determination of the Union interest was based on an appreciation of the various interests involved, i.e. those of the Union producers, importers and users.

(86)

In previous investigations, it was considered that the adoption of measures was not against the interest of the Union. Furthermore, the fact that the current investigation is a review, and thus analyses a situation in which anti-dumping measures are already in place, allows for the assessment of any undue negative impact on the parties concerned by the current anti-dumping measures.

(87)

On this basis it was examined whether, despite the conclusions on the likelihood of the continuation of dumping and of injury, it could be clearly concluded that it is not in the Union interest to maintain measures in this particular case.

(88)

In view of the conclusions on the situation of the Union industry set out in recital 66 above, and in line with the arguments underpinning the likelihood of continuation of injury as explained in recitals 78 to 81, it can be considered that the expiry of the measures in force would lead to further deterioration in the economic situation of the Union TCCA industry, which has suffered from the injurious effect of the dumped imports from the PRC and whose situation has been worsened by the global economic crisis.

(89)

It is considered that the continuation of measures would benefit the Union industry, which could in this case recover from the injurious effect of past dumping aggravated by the economic crisis. In contrast, the discontinuation of the measures would put a stop to the recovery of the Union industry, seriously threatening its viability, and, as a result, putting its existence at risk, thus reducing supply and competition on the market.

(90)

All known users, importers, processors and actors in the downstream TCCA industry were contacted.

(91)

Only two users came forward, both expressing their support for the continuation of the measures in force. Both claimed that the continuation of measures would not have a negative impact on competition in the Union market, but that, on the contrary, it would provide the user industry with a wider range of suppliers competing at market prices. Since no other parties came forward in this case, there is no evidence to show that the maintenance of the anti-dumping measures in the present case would have a serious effect on importers and users in the Union.

(92)

The continuation of measures can be expected to assist the Union industry, with consequent beneficial effects on the competitive conditions on the Union market and the consolidation of the sector after the economic crisis and the restructuring. Furthermore, the continuation of the measures can be expected to benefit users and importers by maintaining a wide range of suppliers in the Union market.

(93)

Taking all the above factors into account, it is concluded that there are no compelling reasons against the continuation of the measures in question.

(94)

All parties were informed of the essential facts and considerations on the basis of which it was intended to recommend that the existing measures be maintained. They were also granted a period to submit comments subsequent to that disclosure. The submissions and comments were duly taken into consideration, where warranted.

(95)

It follows from the above that, as provided for by Article 11(2) of the basic Regulation, the anti-dumping measures applicable to imports of TCCA originating in the PRC should be maintained,