Morocco launches anti-dumping investigation into Egyptian steel imports

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has launched an investigation into steel sheet imports from Egypt amid suspicions of dumping after a complaint from Maghreb Steel regarding a questionable increase in Egyptian imports, which it claims adversely affects the national industry.

In a notice published on Thursday, October 10, the department stated that it had received a request from the company Maghreb Steel, which is seeking the implementation of an anti-dumping measure for these imports.

According to this request, submitted under Article 16 of Law No. 15-09 on trade defense measures, “imports of cold-rolled steel sheets from Egypt are suspected of being dumped and pose a significant threat of injury to the national industry.”

Based on a comparison of the normal value at the factory and the export price, the request concluded that the calculated dumping margin is high, significantly exceeding the de minimis level of 2%.

The document indicates that Egyptian imports have seen a significant increase since their introduction to the Moroccan market in 2022. From 2022 to 2023, these imports more than tripled (343%). By the end of May 2024, imports reached 6,049 tons, according to the same source.

Suspicions of dumping have been reinforced as the quantities imported are expected to be higher than anticipated this year.

Based on the data provided by the applicant, it was concluded that imports from Egypt have directly harmed the national steel sheet sector, causing direct deterioration in the performance indicators of the domestic production sector, namely sales, market share, and profitability.

This investigation will cover the period from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024.

Cold-rolled steel sheets are non-plated and non-coated sheets in coils and  are used to manufacture various building materials such as tubes, hardware, and metal frameworks. They are also utilized in appliances, air conditioning equipment, and metal packaging.