[ferro-alloys.com]The US International Trade Commission voted Aug. 13 to continue investigations beyond its preliminary phase into silicon metal imports from four countries after determining, by reasonable indication, that the subject imports are materially injuring or threatening a US industry, according to a statement from the commission.

The ITC's case involves an antidumping duty investigation into silicon imports from Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iceland and Malaysia and a countervailing duty investigation into imports from Kazakhstan.

The scope of investigation includes silicon metal of all forms and sizes, including silicon powder but excluding semiconductor-grade silicon, containing between 85% and 99.99% silicon content and less than 4% iron by actual weight, the ITC said.

The affirmative determination was passed by a unanimous 5-0 vote.

The duty investigations will now move to the Department of Commerce, which will provide preliminary countervailing duty determinations on Sept. 23 and preliminary antidumping duty determinations on Dec. 7, assuming there are no extensions.

The alleged dumping margins are 21.41% for Bosnia-Herzegovina, 28.12% to 47.54% for Iceland and 11.49% to 16.92% for Malaysia. For the countervailing duty determination, Commerce will investigate eight subsidy programs that may have unfairly supported Kazakh silicon producers.

US producers Globe Specialty Metals and Mississippi Silicon are serving as the petitioners for the investigation.

"Today's vote reaffirms what US producers of silicon metal and their workers have known for years – that our industry is suffering as a result of dumped and subsidized imports," Mississippi Silicon Chief Operations Officer Eddie Boardwine said in a joint statement issued by the company and Globe Specialty Metals. "On behalf of our employees, customers, and colleagues, we applaud the ITC for its commitment to addressing harmful trade practices and look forward to seeing a level playing field restored."

Imports of silicon under HTS codes 2804.69.1 and 2804.69.5 from all four subject countries rose year on year in 2019, according to data from the US Census Bureau.

US silicon imports in 2019 included 9,601 mt from Bosnia-Herzegovina (up 17%), 6,338 mt from Iceland (up 449%), 7,771 mt from Kazakhstan (up 178%) and 3,419 mt from Malaysia (up from no imports in 2018).

(S&P Global Platts)

• [Editor:王可]