Brazil has imposed final anti-dumping duties against South Africa of $650.42 per ton, on Butyl Acrylate, exported under tariff subheading 2916.12.30. Given that SA was exporting this product at an FOB value of approximately $1 300 per ton in the last 12 months, this is around a 50% duty, which I am guessing will shut off the Brazilian market completely. At the same as they imposed the anti-dumping duty against South Africa, Brazil also imposed definitive anti-dumping duties against Germany ($585.34 per ton) and Taiwan ($155.64 per ton). The USA was already facing an anti-dumping duty on this product, but their duty was extended last year following a sunset review and is now at $190 per ton. South Africa faced the largest anti-dumping duty of all the countries investigated. South Africa exported R53m worth of Butyl Acrylate to Brazil in the period August 2014 to July 2015, accounting for approximately 6% of the total volume exported in that period.

Could more actions follow?

Whilst Brazil only accounted for 6% of the export volume, countries like Belgium and the USA bought a lot more of the product (35% and 20% of the volume respectively). They also bought it at lower prices than Brazil, raising the prospect of anti-dumping actions in those markets too. The USA being particularly worrisome, as they are already facing an anti-dumping duty in Brazil and would thus be even more sensitive to competition in their home market. South Africa’s price to the USA is 14% lower than it was to Brazil, so I would not be suprised to see a USA anti-dumping action against South Africa in the near future.