The European Commission plans to impose anti-dumping duties on imports of Chinese-originating fused alumina.
The measures are to combat what the commission described as “unfair trade practices”.
In a press release the Commission stated that the duties range between 88.7% and 110.6%, while simultaneously introducing a duty-free tariff quota allowing a limited volume of Chinese imports to enter the EU market without customs duties.
All imports exceeding this quota will be subject to anti-dumping duties, with measures to apply for an initial period of five years.
The Commission also noted that the introduction of a duty-free tariff quota will contribute to protecting the entire value chain associated with fused alumina.
This chain is essential to European economic security, strategic autonomy, and long-term industrial competitiveness.
“These measures will address what the EU described as harmful dumping in the EU market while avoiding the emergence of structural risks that threaten the industrial ecosystem,” the Commission stated.
“They will also ensure security of supply for industrial users of fused alumina and reduce the European Union’s dependence on China for this strategic material for European industry.”
The Commission clarified that the value of the fused alumina market in the European Union ranges between €400 and €500 million.
The total volume of fused alumina in the EU is estimated to be 380,000 tons: 200,000 tons comes from imports, and of this figure around 160,000 tons comes from China.
The fused alumina industry in the EU provides employment for around 1,000 people, with facilities located across Austria, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy and Slovenia.
