The US Department of Commerce announced its affirmative preliminary determination in the antidumping duty investigation of imports of graphite electrodes from China. Graphite electrodes are typically applied in primary melting, ladle metallurgy and specialty industrial furnace applications such as foundries, smelters and steel refining operations.

Commerce determined that Chinese exporters sold small diameter graphite electrodes in the United States at less than normal value. Chinese mandatory respondents, Fushun Jinly Petrochemical Carbon Co Ltd and the Fangda Group received preliminary antidumping margins of 132.80 and 147.80% respectively. In addition, 11 Chinese respondents qualified for a separate rate of 140.30%. All other Chinese exporters are subject to the China-wide rate of 159.34%.

Mr David Spooner assistant secretary for Import Administration said that “Foreign exporters unfairly undercut American manufacturers by dumping imports of graphite electrodes. The Administration is committed to aggressively enforcing America's trade remedy laws in order to achieve strong and fair relationships with our trading partners.”

The merchandise covered by this investigation includes all small diameter graphite electrodes of any length, whether or not finished, of a kind used in furnaces, with a nominal or actual diameter of 400 millimeters or less and whether or not attached to a graphite pin joining system or any other type of joining system or hardware. The petitioners for this investigation are SGL Carbon LLC and Superior Graphite Co.

Dumping occurs when a foreign company sells a product in the United States at less than normal value. As a result of this preliminary determination, Commerce will instruct US Customs and Border Protection to suspend liquidation of entries of subject merchandise and to collect a cash deposit or bond based on the preliminary rates.