COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2019/687

of 2 May 2019

imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of certain organic coated steel products originating in the People's Republic of China following an expiry review pursuant to Article 11(2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/1036 of the European Parliament and of the Council

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EU) 2016/1036 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 June 2016 on protection against dumped imports from countries not members of the European Union (1) (‘the basic Regulation’), and in particular Article 11(2) thereof,

Whereas:

1. PROCEDURE

1.1. Measures in force

(1) The Council, by Implementing Regulation (EU) No 214/2013 (2), imposed definitive anti-dumping duties on imports of certain organic coated steel products originating in the People's Republic of China (‘China’, ‘the PRC’ or ‘the country concerned’). The anti-dumping duties currently in force range from 0 % to 26,1 % (‘the original measures’). The investigation that led to the imposition of the original measures will hereinafter be referred to as ‘the original investigation’.

(2) The Council, by Implementing Regulation (EU) No 215/2013 (3), also imposed countervailing duties on imports of certain organic coated steel products originating in China. The countervailing duties currently in force range from 13,7 % to 44,7 %.

(3) The level of the combined duties ranges from 13,7 % to 58,3 %.

1.2. Initiation of an expiry review

(4) Following the publication of a notice of impending expiry of the definitive anti-dumping measures in force (4), on 13 December 2017 the Commission received a request for the initiation of an expiry review of these measures pursuant to Article 11(2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/1036 (‘the basic Regulation’). The request was lodged by The European Steel Association (‘EUROFER’) on behalf of producers representing more than 70 % of the total Union production of certain organic coated steel products (‘the applicant’). The request was based on the grounds that the expiry of the definitive anti-dumping measures would be likely to result in recurrence of dumping and injury to the Union industry.

(5) On 14 March 2018, the Commission announced, by a notice published in the Official Journal of the European Union (5) (‘the Notice of Initiation’), the initiation of an expiry review of the anti-dumping measures applicable pursuant to Article 11(2) of the basic Regulation.

(6) The Commission, by a notice published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 14 March 2018 (6), also announced the initiation of an expiry review pursuant to Article 18 of Regulation (EU) 2016/1037 of the European Parliament and of the Council (7) of the definitive countervailing measures in force with regard to the product concerned originating in China.

1.3. Investigation

1.3.1. Review investigation period and period considered

(7) The investigation of a continuation or recurrence of dumping covered the period from 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2017 (‘the review investigation period’ or ‘RIP’). The examination of the trends relevant for the assessment of the likelihood of continuation or recurrence of injury covered the period from 1 January 2014 to the end of the review investigation period (‘the period considered’).

1.3.2. Interested parties

(8) In the Notice of Initiation, the Commission invited all interested parties to participate in the investigation. In addition, the Commission officially advised the following parties of the initiation of the expiry review: the applicant, the known producers in the Union and their relevant associations, the known exporting producers in China, the known unrelated importers in the Union, unrelated users in the Union known to be concerned and the authorities in the exporting country.

(9) All interested parties were invited to make their views known, submit information and provide supporting evidence within the time limits set out in the Notice of Initiation. Interested parties were also granted the opportunity to request in writing a hearing by the Commission investigation services and/or the Hearing Officer in trade proceedings.

1.3.3. Sampling

(10) In the Notice of Initiation, the Commission stated that it might sample the interested parties in accordance with Article 17 of the basic Regulation.

1.3.3.1. Sampling of Union producers

(11) In the Notice of Initiation, the Commission stated that it had provisionally selected a sample of Union producers, in accordance with Article 17(1) of the basic Regulation. Prior to the initiation, 21 Union producers had provided the information requested for the selection of the sample and expressed their willingness to cooperate with the Commission. On that basis, the Commission had provisionally selected a sample of three producers, which were found to be representative of the Union industry in terms of volume of production and sales of the like product in the Union. The sampled Union producers accounted for 28 % of the estimated total production of the Union industry and for 27 % of the total sales volume of the Union industry to unrelated customers in the Union during the review investigation period. The Commission invited interested parties to comment on the provisional sample. No comments were received and the provisional sample was thus confirmed. The sample was considered representative for the Union industry.

1.3.3.2. Sampling of importers

(12) The request to initiate the expiry review identified nine unrelated importers which were invited to provide sampling information. None of them came forward.

1.3.3.3. Sampling of exporting producers in China

(13) To decide whether sampling is necessary and, if so, to select a sample, the Commission asked all known exporting producers in China to provide the information specified in the Notice of Initiation. In addition, the Commission asked the Mission of the People's Republic of China to the European Union to identify and/or contact other exporting producers, if any, that could be interested in participating in the investigation.

(14) Two exporting producers returned the sampling forms but none of them produced organic coated steel products as defined in the Notice of Initiation. A third exporting producer made itself known six weeks after the deadline for replies to the sampling form. This exporting producer was given interested party status, but was considered non-cooperating since it never replied to the sampling form or attempted to reply to the exporting producer's questionnaire.

(15) Therefore, there was no cooperation by exporting producers in China.

1.3.4. Questionnaires and verification visits

(16) The Commission sent questionnaires to the three sampled Union producers, the applicant and the Government of China (‘GOC’). Replies to the questionnaires were received from the three sampled Union producers and the applicant.

(17) The Commission verified all the information it deemed necessary for a determination of the likelihood of a continuation or recurrence of dumping and injury and of the Union interest. Verification visits were carried out at the premises of the following interested parties: (a) Union producers: — ArcelorMittal Belgium, Belgium — Marcegaglia Carbon Steel SpA, Italy — Tata Steel Maubeuge SA, France (b) Association of Union producers: — EUROFER, Belgium

1.3.5. Procedure for the determination of the normal value under Article 2(6a) of the basic Regulation

(18) In view of the sufficient evidence available at the initiation of the investigation tending to show the existence of significant distortions within the meaning of point (b) of Article 2(6a) of the basic Regulation, the Commission considered it appropriate to initiate the investigation on the basis of Article 2(6a) of the basic Regulation.

(19) Consequently, in order to collect the necessary data for the eventual application of Article 2(6a) of the basic Regulation, in the Notice of Initiation the Commission invited all exporting producers the country concerned to provide the information requested in Annex III to the Notice of the Initiation regarding the inputs used for producing the product under review. The same two exporting producers that sent sampling replies also submitted the information requested in Annex III. Since they did not produce the product under review, no replies relevant to the product under review were received.

(20) In order to obtain information it deems necessary for its investigation with regard to the alleged significant distortions within the meaning of point (b) of Article 2(6a) of the basic Regulation, the Commission also sent a questionnaire to the GOC. No reply was received from the GOC.

(21) In the Notice of Initiation, the Commission also invited all interested parties to make their views known, submit information and provide supporting evidence regarding the appropriateness of the application of Article 2(6a) of the basic Regulation within 37 days of the date of publication of this Notice in the Official Journal of the European Union. No submissions or additional evidence were received in that respect by the GOC or the exporting producers.

(22) In the Notice of Initiation, the Commission also specified that, in view of the evidence available, it may need to select an appropriate representative country pursuant to Article 2(6a)(a) of the basic Regulation for the purpose of determining the normal value based on undistorted prices or benchmarks.

(23) On 13 April 2018, the Commission published a first note for the file (‘the Note of 13 April 2018’) (8) seeking the views of the interested parties on the relevant sources that the Commission may use for the determination of the normal value, in accordance with Article 2(6a)(e) second ident of the basic Regulation. In that note, the Commission provided a list of all factors of production such as materials, energy and labour used in the production of the product under review by the exporting producers. In addition, based on the criteria guiding the choice of undistorted prices or benchmarks, the Commission identified six possible representative countries: Argentina, Colombia, Malaysia, Mexico, Thailand and South Africa.

(24) The Commission gave all interested parties the opportunity to comment. The Commission received comments only from the applicant. Neither the authorities of the country concerned nor any of the exporting producers provided comments.

(25) The Commission addressed the comments received by the applicant on the Note of 13 April 2018 in a second note on the sources for the determination of the normal value of 3 July 2018 (‘the Note of 3 July 2018’) (9). The Commission also established the list of factors of production and concluded that, at that stage, Mexico was the most appropriate representative country under Article 2(6a)(a), first indent of the basic Regulation. The Commission invited interested parties to comment. The Commission received comments only from the applicant. This Regulation addresses those comments.

1.3.6. Subsequent procedure

(26) On 22 February 2019, the Commission made the disclosure of the essential facts and considerations on the basis of which it intended to impose anti-dumping duties (‘final disclosure’). All parties were granted a period within which they could make comments on the disclosure.

(27) No parties made any comments on the final disclosure.

2. PRODUCT CONCERNED AND LIKE PRODUCT

2.1. Product concerned

(28) The product concerned by this expiry review is the same as the one in the original investigation, that is certain organic coated steel products, i.e. flat-rolled products of non-alloy and alloy steel (not including stainless steel) which are painted, varnished or coated with plastics on at least one side, excluding so-called ‘sandwich panels’ of a kind used for building applications and consisting of two outer metal sheets with a stabilising core of insulation material sandwiched between them, excluding those products with a final coating of zinc-dust (a zinc-rich paint, containing by weight 70 % or more of zinc), and excluding those products with a substrate with a metallic coating of chromium or tin; currently falling within CN codes ex 7210 70 80, ex 7212 40 80, ex 7225 99 00, ex 7226 99 70 (TARIC codes 7210708011, 7210708091, 7212408001, 7212408021, 7212408091, 7225990011, 7225990091, 7226997011 and 7226997091), and originating in China (‘the product under review’ or ‘OCS’).

(29) The product under review is obtained by applying an organic coating to flat-rolled steel products. The organic coating provides protection, and aesthetic and functional properties to steel products.

(30) OCS are mainly used in the construction sector and for further processing in products used in construction. Other applications include home appliances.

2.2. Like product

(31) No interested parties commented on the like product. Hence, as established in the original investigation, this expiry review investigation confirmed that product produced and sold on the domestic markets of China and the representative country Mexico, and the product produced and sold in the Union by the Union producers have the same basic physical and technical characteristics and end-uses. They are therefore considered to be like products within the meaning of Article 1(4) of the basic Regulation.

3. LIKELIHOOD OF CONTINUATION OR RECURRENCE OF DUMPING

3.1. Preliminary remarks

(32) In accordance with Article 11(2) of the basic Regulation, the Commission examined whether the expiry of the measures in force would be likely to lead to a continuation or recurrence of dumping from the PRC.

(33) As mentioned in recital 15, none of the Chinese exporting producers cooperated in the investigation. Thus, the exporting producers failed to submit questionnaire replies, including any data on export prices and costs, domestic prices and costs, capacity, production, investments, etc. Likewise, the GOC and the exporting producers failed to address the evidence on the case file, including the ‘Commission Staff Working Document on Significant Distortions in the Economy of the People's Republic of China for the Purposes of Trade Defense Investigations’ (10) (‘the Report’), and the additional evidence provided by the applicant, showing that such prices and costs were affected by substantial government interventions. Therefore, the Commission resorted to the use of facts available in accordance with Article 18 of the basic Regulation.

(34) The Commission notified the Chinese authorities and the third exporting producer mentioned in recital 14 of the application of Article 18(1) of the basic Regulation and gave them the opportunity to comment. The Commission did not receive any comments.

(35) On that basis, in accordance with Article 18(1) of the basic Regulation, the findings in relation to the likelihood of continuation or recurrence of dumping set out below were based on facts available, in particular, the information contained in the request for the expiry review, in the submissions by interested parties, and the statistics available in the Article 14(6) database.

3.2. Continuation of dumping of imports during the review investigation period

(36) For the review investigation period, the statistical data from the Article 14(6) database show that a small volume of OCS was imported into the Union from the PRC amounting to 6 338 tonnes and constituting 0,1 % of the total Union consumption. OCS was, however, imported to 16 Member States and the imports were spread over the whole review investigation period. Consequently, the Commission concluded that the actual imports in the review investigation period were representative and, therefore, examined whether dumping continued during the review investigation period.

3.2.1. Normal value

(37) According to Article 2(1) of the basic Regulation, ‘the normal value shall normally be based on the prices paid or payable, in the ordinary course of trade, by independent customers in the exporting country’.

(38) However, according to Article 2(6a)(a) of the basic Regulation, ‘(i)n case it is determined […] that it is not appropriate to use domestic prices and costs in the exporting country due to the existence in that country of significant distortions within the meaning of point (b), the normal value shall be constructed exclusively on the basis of costs of production and sale reflecting undistorted prices or benchmarks’, and ‘shall include an undistorted and reasonable amount of administrative, selling and general costs and for profits’. As further explained below, the Commission concluded in the present investigation that, based on the evidence available, and in view of the lack of cooperation of the GOC and the exporting producers, the application of Article 2(6a) of the basic Regulation was appropriate.

3.2.2. Existence of significant distortions

3.2.2.1. Introduction

(39) Article 2(6a)(b) of the basic Regulation defines ‘significant distortions as those distortions which occur when reported prices or costs, including the costs of raw materials and energy, are not the result of free market forces as they are affected by substantial government intervention. In assessing the existence of significant distortions regard shall be had, inter alia, to the potential impact of one or more of the following elements: — the market in question being served to a significant extent by enterprises which operate under the ownership, control or policy supervision or guidance of the authorities of the exporting country; — state presence in firms allowing the state to interfere with respect to prices or costs; — public policies or measures discriminating in favour of domestic suppliers or otherwise influencing free market forces; — the lack, discriminatory application or inadequate enforcement of bankruptcy, corporate or property laws; — wage costs being distorted; — access to finance granted by institutions which implement public policy objectives or otherwise not acting independently of the state’.

(40) Article 2(6a)(c) of the basic Regulation provides that ‘[w]here the Commission has well-founded indications of the possible existence of significant distortions as referred to in point (b) in a certain country or a certain sector in that country, and where appropriate for the effective application of this Regulation, the Commission shall produce, make public and regularly update a report describing the market circumstances referred to in point (b) in that country or sector’.

(41) Interested parties were invited to rebut, comment or supplement the evidence contained in the investigation file at the time of initiation. In that respect, the Commission produced the Report showing the existence of substantial government intervention at many levels of the economy, including specific distortions in many key factors of production (such as land, energy, capital, raw materials and labour) as well as in specific sectors (such as steel and chemicals). The Report was placed in the investigation file at the initiation stage. The request also contained some relevant evidence complementing the Report.

(42) The applicant referred in paragraph 71 and Annex 18 of the request to a US Department of Commerce (‘US DOC’) document (11). According to the US DOC, the steel sector is classified under the ‘basic and pillar industries’ where the State must ‘maintain relatively strong controlling power.’ The US DOC document contains reference to the ‘SASAC Document’ (12) that divides economic sectors into three categories and related sub-categories, according to the perceived necessity for government control, namely: (1) strategic industries, which ‘affect national security and the lifeblood of the economy’, in which the state must ‘maintain absolute controlling power’; (2) ‘basic and pillar industries’ in which the state must ‘maintain relatively strong controlling power’; or (3) other industries in which the state must ‘maintain influence’. Also, the SASAC Document sets a general goal of having, by 2010, a group of important backbone enterprises with fairly strong influence and driving force for the development of an industry, which entails establishing a strong foundation for important backbone enterprises in the petrochemical, telecoms, electricity, shipping, and construction industries to develop and become globally first-rate enterprises, and for important backbone enterprises in the automotive, machinery, and IT industries to become globally first-rate enterprises.

(43) Regarding the hot-rolled steel (‘HRS’) and cold-rolled steel (‘CRS’) costs necessary for re-rolling production, the applicant referred to previous EU Regulations imposing countervailing duties (13) where the Commission established that both CRS and HRS flat products are subsidised. According to the applicant, this resulted in an artificially low cost price of the final products. In addition, the applicant quoted a report by ThinkDesk (14) and argued that this report also provided evidence that many Chinese producers were enabled to offer HRS flat products on the Chinese market at distorted prices.

(44) Finally, the applicants also argued that current Chinese domestic HRS and CRS prices are still lower than international prices on the basis of data provided by Global Platts (15).

(45) Regarding zinc and the domination of the mining industry by State-owned enterprises, in addition to the evidence contained in the Report, the applicants also provided evidence that a 30 % export tax on zinc is currently in place in China (see paragraphs 87–89 and Annex 18 of the request).

(46) The applicant further claimed that there are significant distortions in chemical components, which in turn lead to significant distortions in paint and other chemical coating products used for organic coated steel production. They based themselves on the evidence contained in the Report (Chapter 16 ‘Chemical Sector’ thereof). In particular, the Report mentioned on the basis of China Chemical Enterprise Management Association that the largest chemical companies (in 2015, based on sales revenue) in China are SOEs, including eight of the first ten largest chemical enterprises (16). In addition, the applicant referred to the KPMG report provided in Annex 18 of the request, which showed that the top 10 Chinese chemical companies are State-owned.

(47) Regarding electricity, in addition to the Report, the applicant claimed that OCS producers enjoy preferential electricity rates (17) and Chongquing Wanda Steel Strip is said to have benefited from an electricity rate lower than the rate generally applicable for large industrial enterprise (18). Finally, the applicant submitted publicly available information, according to which Shougang Group and Inner Mongolia Baotou Steel Union have benefited from electricity price subsidies (19).

(48) Regarding preferential loans and other financial support, in addition to the Report, the applicant pointed to a recent press report alleging that the GOC's control over local banks has been further reinforced by legislative developments in 2017 (20). The applicant also quoted the US DOC's findings that the sector ‘remains fundamentally distorted from both a risk pricing and a resource allocation standpoint. In addition, (…) an analysis of interest rate dynamics suggest that interest rates are still closely tied to government-published ‘reference rates’, and are thus not yet market-determined. Soft budget constraints, non-arm's-length pricing, implicit government guarantees and government policy directives directly or indirectly distort the formal banking sector, the interbank market, the bond market, and ‘shadow banking’. These distortions can be directly tied to government ownership and control to the state's pervasive and intrusive role in China's financial system’ (21).

(49) The applicant recalled that the Commission established in its previous investigations that major OCS producers received subsidies in the form of preferential lending, debt for equity swaps, equity infusions, and relieve to pay dividends to the Chinese government as the main shareholder (22). In addition, the applicant identified a number of other OCS producers having benefitted from preferential lending on the basis of their annual reports (23).

(50) Finally, the applicant quoted a report prepared by ThinkDesk, which identified at least six OCS producers to which benefited from government support measures in the form of Deleveraging and Debt to Equity Swaps in the Chinese Steel Industry in the years 2016-2017. Those measures were identified as subsidies by ThinkDesk (24).

(51) The request identified a number of alleged additional distortions in the form of fiscal support and low environmental standards in China, already indicated in the Report. In particular, the applicant referred to past findings by the Commission of various direct tax exemptions and reduction programmes that artificially reduced the taxable income of the steel companies, indirect tax (VAT) and import tariff programmes, and various (ad-hoc) grant programmes (25). The applicant further claimed that these programs are still active and available today.

(52) Regarding environmental standards, the applicant quoted an OECD report provided in Annex 18 of the request (26), which arguably shows that the GOC offers indirect support to steel manufacturers by failing to enforce basic environmental standards, by contrast to Union producers which are subject to much stricter environmental standards, especially given the recent development that the REACH Regulation prohibited ongoing use of chromates in the pre-treatment stage of the OCS production (discussed also in paragraphs 12-16 of the request).

(53) The Commission will examine whether it is appropriate or not to use domestic prices and costs in China, due to the existence of significant distortions within the meaning of point (b) of Article 2(6a) of the basic Regulation. The Commission will do so on the basis of the evidence available on the file, including the evidence contained in the Report, which relies on publicly available sources. That analysis will cover the examination of the substantial government interventions in its economy in general, but also the specific market situation in the relevant sector including the product under review. As specified in recitals 16-20, neither the GOC nor the exporting producers commented or provided evidence supporting or rebutting the existing evidence on the case file, including the Report, and the additional evidence provided by the applicant, on the existence of significant distortions and/or on the appropriateness of the application of Article 2(6a) of the basic Regulation in the case at hand.

3.2.2.2. Significant distortions affecting the domestic prices and costs in the PRC: general economic context

(54) The very foundation of the Chinese economic system, namely the concept of the so-called ‘socialist market economy’, is at odds with the notion of free play of market forces. That concept is enshrined in the Chinese Constitution and determines the economic governance of China. The core principle is the ‘socialist public ownership of the means of production, namely, ownership by the whole people and collective ownership by the working people’. The State-owned economy is considered the ‘leading force of the national economy’ and the State has the mandate ‘to ensure its consolidation and growth’ (27). Consequently, the overall setup of the Chinese economy not only allows for substantial government interventions into the economy, but such interventions are expressly mandated. The notion of supremacy of public ownership over the private one permeates the entire legal system and is emphasized as a general principle in all central pieces of legislation. The Chinese property law is a prime example: it refers to the primary stage of socialism and entrusts the State with upholding the basic economic system under which the public ownership plays a dominant role. Other forms of ownership are tolerated, with the law permitting them to develop side by side with the State ownership (28).

(55) In addition, according to relevant Chinese legislation, the socialist market economy is developed under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The structures of the Chinese State and of the CCP are intertwined at every level (legal, institutional, personal), forming a superstructure in which the roles of CCP and the State are indistinguishable. Following an amendment of the Chinese Constitution in March 2018, the leading role of the CCP was given an even greater prominence by being reaffirmed in the text of Article 1 of the Constitution. Following the existing first sentence of the provision: ‘[t]he socialist system is the basic system of the People's Republic of China’ a new second sentence was inserted which reads: ‘[t]he defining feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics is the leadership of the Communist Party of China.’ (29). This illustrates the unquestioned and ever growing control of the CCP over the economic system of China. This control is inherent to the Chinese system and goes well beyond the situation customary in other countries where the governments exercise broad macroeconomic control within the boundaries of which free market forces are at play.

(56) The Chinese State engages in an interventionist economic policy in pursuance of goals, which coincide with the political agenda set by the CCP rather than reflecting the prevailing economic conditions in a free market (30). The interventionist economic tools deployed by the Chinese authorities are manifold, including the system of industrial planning, the financial system, as well as various facets of the regulatory environment.

(57) First, on the level of overall administrative control, the direction of the Chinese economy is governed by a complex system of industrial planning which affects all economic activities within the country. The totality of these plans cover a comprehensive and complex matrix of sectors and crosscutting policies and is present on all levels of government. Plans at provincial level tend to be fairly detailed while national plans tend to set somewhat broader targets. Plans also specify the tool box in order to support the relevant industries/sectors as well as the timeframes in which the objectives need to be achieved. Some plans still contain explicit output targets while this was a regular feature in previous planning cycles. Under the plans, individual industrial sectors and/or projects are being singled out as (positive or negative) priorities in line with the government priorities and specific development goals are attributed to them (industrial upgrade, international expansion etc.). The economic operators, private and State-owned alike, must effectively adjust their business activities according to the realities imposed by the planning system. This is not only because of the formally binding nature of the plans. Crucially, the relevant Chinese authorities at all level of government adhere to the system of plans and they use their vested powers accordingly, thereby inducing the economic operators to comply with the priorities set out in the plans (see also section 3.2.2.5 below) (31).

(58) Second, on the level of allocation of financial resources, the financial system of China is dominated by the State-owned commercial banks. Those banks, when setting up and implementing their lending policy need to align themselves with the government's industrial policy objectives rather than primarily assessing the economic merits of a given project (see also section 3.2.2.8 below) (32). The same applies to the other components of the Chinese financial system, such as the stock markets, bond markets, private equity markets etc. Even though of lesser significance than the banking sector, these parts of the financial sector are institutionally and operationally set up in a manner not geared towards maximizing the efficient functioning of the financial markets but towards ensuring control and allowing intervention by the State and the CCP (33).

(59) Third, on the level of regulatory environment, the interventions by the State into the economy take a number of forms. For instance, the public procurement rules are regularly used in pursuit of policy goals other than economic efficiency, thereby undermining market based principles in the area. The applicable legislation specifically provides that public procurement shall be conducted in order to facilitate the achievement of goals designed by State policies. However, the nature of these goals remains undefined, thereby leaving broad margin of appreciation to the decision-making bodies (34). Similarly, in the area of investment, the Chinese government maintains significant control and influence over destination and magnitude of both State and private investment. Investment screening as well as various incentives, restrictions, and prohibitions related to investment are used by authorities as an important tool for supporting industrial policy goals, such as maintaining State control over key sectors or bolstering domestic industry (35).

(60) In sum, the Chinese economic model is based on certain basic axioms which provide for and encourage manifold government interventions. Such substantial government interventions are at odds with free play of market forces, resulting in distorting the effective allocation of resources in line with market principles (36).

3.2.2.3. Significant distortions according to Article 2(6a)(b), first indent of the basic Regulation: the market in question being served to a significant extent by enterprises which operate under the ownership, control or policy supervision or guidance of the authorities of the exporting country

(61) Against that background of State intervention and dominance of State ownership in the Chinese economic model, State-owned enterprises (‘SOEs’) represent an essential part of the Chinese economy. The government and the CCP maintain structures that ensure their continued influence over SOEs. The State party not only actively formulates and oversees the implementation of general economic policies by individual SOEs, but it also claims its rights to participate in operational decision making in SOEs. This is typically done through rotation of cadres between government authorities and SOEs, through presence of party members on SOEs executive bodies and of party cells in companies (see also section 3.2.2.4), as well as through shaping the corporate structure of the SOE sector (37). In exchange, SOEs enjoy a particular status within the Chinese economy, which entails a number of economic benefits, in particular shielding from competition and preferential access to relevant inputs, including finances (38).

(62) Specifically in the steel sector, a substantial degree of ownership by the Chinese government persists. While the nominal split between the number of SOEs and privately owned companies is estimated to be almost even, from the five Chinese steel producers ranked in the top 10 of the world's largest steel producers four are SOEs (39). At the same time, while the top ten producers only took up some 36 % of total industry output in 2016, the Chinese government is aiming to consolidate 60 % to 70 % of iron and steel production to around ten large-scale enterprises by 2025 (40). Such consolidation may entail forced mergers of profitable private companies with underperforming SOEs (41).

(63) With the high level of government intervention in the steel industry and a high share of SOEs in the sector, even privately owned steel producers are prevented from operating under market conditions. Indeed, both public or privately owned enterprises in the steel sector are also subject to policy supervision and guidance as set out in section 3.2.2.5 below.

(64) The state control and intervention on OCS is not excluded from the general framework described. Many of the major OCS producers are State-owned. The evidence available thus suggests that OCS producers in the PRC are subject to the same ownership, control or policy supervision or guidance by the Chinese government and thus do not operate in accordance with market principles (42).

3.2.2.4. Significant distortions according to Article 2(6a)(b), second indent of the basic Regulation: State presence in firms allowing the state to interfere with respect to prices or costs

(65) Apart from exercising control over the economy by means of ownership of SOEs and other tools, the Chinese State is in position to interfere with prices and costs through State presence in firms. While the right to appoint and to remove key management personnel in SOEs by the relevant State authorities, as provided for in the Chinese legislation, can be considered to reflect the corresponding ownership rights (43), CCP cells in enterprises, state owned and private alike, represent another channel through which the State can interfere with business decisions. According to China's company law, a CCP organisation is to be established in every company and the company is to provide the necessary conditions for the activities of the party organisation. In the past, this requirement appears not to have always been followed or strictly enforced. However, since at least 2016 the CCP has reinforced it claims to control business decision in SOEs as a matter of political principle. The CCP is also reported to exercise pressure on private companies to put ‘patriotism’ first and to follow party discipline (44). In 2017, it was reported that party cells existed in 70 % of some 1,86 million privately owned companies, with growing pressure for the CCP organisations to have final say over the business decision within their respective companies (45). These rules apply in general in the Chinese economy, including to the producers of OCS and the suppliers of their inputs.

(66) Specifically in the steel sector (including the product under review and the suppliers of the main inputs), many of the major steel producers (including OCS producers) are owned by the State. Some are specifically referred to in the ‘Steel Industry Adjustment and Upgrading plan for 2016-2020’ (46) as examples of the achievements of the 12th five-year planning period (such as Baosteel, Anshan Iron and Steel, Wuhan Iron and Steel, etc.). The public documents of the State-owned OCS producer sometimes stress the connection with the Chinese State. For example, Baoshan Iron & Steel (or Baosteel) stated in the 2016 Semi-Annual Report that ‘[t]he company committed itself to matching regional 13th Five Year planning and reached wide consensus with local governments in sharing resources, connecting urban industries and building ecological environment’ (47). In the recent anti-subsidy investigation of certain hot-rolled flat products of iron, non-alloy or other alloy steel (‘HRF’) originating in China (48), the Commission established that three of the four sampled groups of exporting producers were SOEs. In all three groups, the Chairmen of the Board or the President also acted as the Party Committee Secretary of the group's CCP organisation.

(67) The State's presence and intervention in the financial markets (see also section 3.2.2.8 below) as well as in the provision of raw materials and inputs further have a distorting effect on the market (49). Thus, the State presence in firms, including SOEs, in the steel and other sectors (such as the financial and input sectors) allow the GOC to interfere with respect to prices and costs.

3.2.2.5. Significant distortions according to Article 2(6a)(b), third indent of the basic Regulation: public policies or measures discriminating in favour of domestic suppliers or otherwise influencing free market forces

(68) The direction of the Chinese economy is to a significant degree determined by an elaborate system of planning which sets out priorities and prescribes the goals the central and local governments must focus on. Relevant plans exist on all levels of government and cover virtually all economic sectors, the objectives set by the planning instruments are of binding nature and the authorities at each administrative level monitor the implementation of the plans by the corresponding lower level of government. Overall, the system of planning in China results in resources being driven to sectors designated as strategic or otherwise politically important by the government, rather than being allocated in line with market forces (50).

(69) The steel industry, including the production of OCS as a high-end steel product, is regarded as a key industry by the Chinese government (51). This is confirmed in the numerous plans, directives and other documents focused on steel, which are issued at national, regional and municipal level such as the ‘Steel Industry Adjustment and Upgrading plan for 2016-2020’. This Plan states that the steel industry is ‘an important, fundamental sector of the Chinese economy, a national cornerstone’ (52). The main tasks and objectives set out in this Plan cover all aspects of the development of the industry (53).

(70) The 13th Five-Year Plan on Economic and Social Development (54) envisages support to enterprises producing high-end steel product types (55). It also focuses on achieving product quality, durability and reliability by supporting companies using technologies related to clean steel production, precision rolling and quality improvement (56).

(71) The ‘Catalogue for Guiding Industry Restructuring (2011 Version) (2013 Amendment)’ (57) (‘the Catalogue’) lists iron and steel as encouraged industries. In particular, the Catalogue encourages the ‘[d]evelopment and application of technologies for higher-performance, high-quality, and upgrading steel products, including but not limited to high-strength automobile sheets of not less than 600 MPa, high performance pipeline steel for oil and gas transmission, high-strength wide and thick plates for vessels, marine engineering steel, moderate thickness plates of not less than 420 MPa for buildings, bridges and other structures, steel for high-speed and heavy-haul railways, low-iron loss and high-magnetic induction silicon steel, corrosion- and wear-resistance steel, alloy resource-saving stainless steel (modern ferritic stainless steel, duplex stainless steel, and nitrogen stainless steel), special steel bars and wire rods for high-performance basic parts (high-performance gears, bolts at or above Grade 12.9, high-strength spring, and long service life bearings), and high-quality special steel forged materials (tool and mould steel, stainless steel, and steel for machinery, among others)’. The applicability of the Catalogue was confirmed by the recent anti-subsidy investigation of certain hot-rolled flat products of iron, non-alloy or other alloy steel (‘HRF’) originating in China (58).

(72) The GOC further guides the development of the sector in accordance with a broad range of policy tools and directives related, inter alia: to market composition and restructuring, raw materials (59), investment, capacity elimination, product range, relocation, upgrading, etc. Through these and other means, the GOC directs and controls virtually every aspect in the development and functioning of the sector (60). The current problem of overcapacity is arguably the clearest illustration of the implications of the GOC's policies and the resulting distortions.

(73) In sum, the GOC has measures in place to induce operators to comply with the public policy objectives of supporting encouraged industries, including the production of OCS as a high-end steel product and the raw materials used for producing it. Such measures impede market forces from operating normally.

3.2.2.6. Significant distortions according to Article 2(6a)(b), fourth indent of the basic Regulation: the lack, discriminatory application or inadequate enforcement of bankruptcy, corporate or property laws

(74) The Chinese bankruptcy system appears inadequate to deliver on its own main objectives such as to fairly settle claims and debts and to safeguard the lawful rights and interests of creditors and debtors. This appears to be rooted in the fact that while the Chinese bankruptcy law formally rests on similar principles as corresponding laws in other countries, the Chinese system is characterised by systematic under-enforcement. The number of bankruptcies remains notoriously low in relation to the size of the country's economy, not least because the insolvency proceedings suffer from a number of shortcomings, which effectively function as a disincentive for bankruptcy filings. Moreover, the role of the State in the insolvency proceedings remains strong and active, often having direct influence on the outcome of the proceedings (61).

(75) In addition, the shortcomings of the system of property rights are particularly obvious in relation to ownership of land and land-use rights in China (62). All land is owned by the Chinese State (collectively owned rural land and State-owned urban land). Its allocation remains solely dependent on the State. There are legal provisions that aim at allocating land use rights in a transparent manner and at market prices, for instance by introducing bidding procedures. However, these provisions are regularly not respected, with certain buyers obtaining their land for free or below market rates (63). Moreover, authorities often pursue specific political goals including the implementation of the economic plans when allocating land (64).

(76) Therefore, the Chinese bankruptcy and property laws do not appear to properly work, resulting in distortions when maintaining insolvent firms afloat and in relation to the land provision and acquisition in the PRC. Those considerations, on the basis of the evidence available, appear to be fully applicable also in the steel sector and more specifically with respect to OCS. In particular, the Commission has established that OCS (65) as well as its raw material hot-rolled steel (66) benefited from the provision of land use rights for less than adequate remuneration.

3.2.2.7. Significant distortions according to Article 2(6a)(b), fifth indent of the basic Regulation: wage costs being distorted

(77) A system of market-based wages cannot fully develop in China as workers and employers are impeded in their rights to collective organisation. China has not ratified a number of essential conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), in particular those on freedom of association and on collective bargaining (67). Under national law, only one trade union organisation is active. However, this organisation lacks independence from the State authorities and its engagement in collective bargaining and protection of workers' rights remains rudimentary (68). Moreover, the mobility of the Chinese workforce is restricted by the household registration system, which limits access to the full range of social security and other benefits to local residents of a given administrative area. This typically results in workers who are not in possession of the local residence registration finding themselves in a vulnerable employment position and receiving lower income than the holders of the residence registration (69). Those findings lead to the distortion of wages costs in China.

(78) No evidence was submitted to the effect that the steel sector, including OCS, would not be subject to the Chinese labour law system described. The OCS sector is thus affected by the distortions of wage costs both directly (when making the product concerned) as well as indirectly (when having access to capital or inputs from companies subject to the same labour system in China).

3.2.2.8. Significant distortions according to Article 2(6a)(b), sixth indent of the basic Regulation: access to finance granted by institutions which implement public policy objectives or otherwise not acting independently of the State

(79) Access to capital for corporate actors in China is subject to various distortions.

(80) Firstly, the Chinese financial system is characterised by strong position of State-owned banks (70), which, when granting access to finance, take into consideration criteria other than economic viability of a project. Similarly to non-financial SOEs, the banks remain connected to the State not only through ownership but also via personal relations (the top executives of the large State-owned financial institutions are ultimately appointed by the CCP) (71) and, again just like non-financial SOEs, the banks regularly implement public policies designed by the government. In doing so, the banks comply with an explicit legal obligation to conduct their business in accordance with the needs of the national economic and social development and under the guidance of the industrial policies of the State (72). This is compounded by additional existing rules, which direct finances into sectors designated by the government as encouraged or otherwise important (73).

(81) While it is acknowledged that various legal provisions refer to the need to respect normal banking behaviour and prudential rules such as the need to examine the creditworthiness of the borrower, the overwhelming evidence, including findings made in trade defence investigations, suggests that these provisions play only a secondary role in the application of the various legal instruments.

(82) Furthermore, bond and credit ratings are often distorted for a variety of reasons including the fact that the risk assessment is influenced by the firm's strategic importance to the Chinese government and the strength of any implicit guarantee by the government. Estimates strongly suggest that Chinese credit ratings systematically correspond to lower international ratings.

(83) This is compounded by additional existing rules, which direct finances into sectors designated by the government as encouraged or otherwise important (74). This results in a bias for lending to SOEs, large well-connected private firms and firms in key industrial sectors, which implies that the availability and cost of capital is not equal for all players on the market.

(84) Secondly, borrowing costs have been kept artificially low to stimulate investment growth. This has led to the excessive use of capital investment with ever lower returns on investment. This is illustrated by the recent growth in corporate leverage in the state sector despite a sharp fall in profitability, which suggests that the mechanisms at work in the banking system do not follow normal commercial responses.

(85) Thirdly, although nominal interest rate liberalization was achieved in October 2015, price signals are still not the result of free market forces, but are influenced by government induced distortions. Indeed, the share of lending at or below the benchmark rate still represents 45 % of all lending and recourse to targeted credit appears to have been stepped up, since this share has increased markedly since 2015 in spite of worsening economic conditions. Artificially low interest rates result in under-pricing, and consequently, the excessive utilization of capital.

(86) Overall credit growth in China indicates a worsening efficiency of capital allocation without any signs of credit tightening that would be expected in an undistorted market environment. As a result, non-performing loans have increased rapidly in recent years. Faced with a situation of increasing debt-at-risk, the Chinese government has opted to avoid defaults. Consequently, bad debt issues have been handled by rolling over debt, thus creating so called ‘zombie’ companies, or by transferring the ownership of the debt (e.g. via mergers or debt-to-equity swaps), without necessarily removing the overall debt problem or addressing its root causes.

(87) In essence, despite the recent steps that have been taken to liberalize the market, the corporate credit system in China is affected by significant systemic issues and distortions resulting from the continuing pervasive role of the state in the capital markets.

(88) No evidence was submitted to the effect that the steel sector, including OCS, would be exempted from the above-described government intervention in the financial system. To the contrary, a report by ThinkDesk provided by the applicant indicated that many Chinese producers of OCS had benefited from non-market conform financial operations. The Commission has also established that OCS (75) as well as its raw material hot-rolled steel (76) benefited from preferential lending constituting subsidies. Therefore, the substantial government intervention in the financial system leads to the market conditions being severely affected at all levels.

3.2.2.9. Systemic nature of the distortions described

(89) The Commission noted that the distortions described in the Report are not limited to the steel sector in general or the OCS sector in particular. On the contrary, the evidence available shows that the facts and features of the Chinese system as described above in Sections 3.2.2.1-3.2.2.5 as well as in Part A of the Report apply throughout the country and across the sectors of the economy. The same holds true for the description of the factors of production as set out above in Sections 3.2.2.6-3.2.2.8 above and in Part B of the Report.

(90) In order to produce OCS, a broad range of inputs is needed. There is no evidence on the file that these inputs are not sourced in China. When the OCS producers purchase/contract these inputs the prices they pay (and which are recorded as their costs) are clearly exposed to the same systemic distortions mentioned before. For instance, suppliers of inputs employ labour that is subject to the distortions. They may borrow money that is subject to the distortions on the financial sector/capital allocation. In addition, they are subject to the planning system which applies across all levels of government and sectors.

(91) As a consequence, not only the domestic sales prices of OCS cannot be used but all the input costs (including raw materials, energy, land, financing, labour, etc.) are also tainted because their price formation is affected by substantial government intervention, as described in Parts A and B of the Report. Indeed, the government interventions described in relation to the allocation of capital, land, labour, energy and raw materials are present throughout the PRC. This means, for instance, that an input that in itself was produced in China by combining a range of factors of production is exposed to significant distortions. The same applies for the input to the input and so forth. No evidence or argument has been adduced by the GOC or the exporting producers in the present investigation on the contrary.

3.2.2.10. Conclusion

(92) The analysis laid out in sections 3.2.2.2. to 3.2.2.9., which includes an examination of all the available evidence relating to China's intervention in its economy in general as well as in the steel sector (including the product concerned) showed that prices or costs, including the costs of raw materials, energy and labour, are not the result of free market forces because they are affected by substantial government intervention within the meaning of Article 2(6a)(b) of the basic Regulation. On that basis, and in the absence of any cooperation from the GOC and the exporting producers, the Commission concluded that it is not appropriate to use domestic prices and costs to establish normal value in this case.

(93) Consequently, the Commission proceeded to construct the normal value exclusively on the basis of costs of production and sale reflecting undistorted prices or benchmarks, that is, in this case, on the basis of corresponding costs of production and sale in an appropriate representative country, in accordance with Article 2(6a)(a) of the basic Regulation, as discussed in the following section. The Commission recalled that no exporting producer cooperated with the investigation and that no claim was presented that some domestic costs would be undistorted under the third indent of Article 2(6a)(a) of the basic Regulation.

3.2.3. Representative country

3.2.3.1. General remarks

(94) The choice of the representative country was based on the following criteria: — A level of economic development similar to the PRC. For this purpose, the Commission used countries with a gross national income similar to the PRC on the basis of the database of the World Bank (77); — Production of the product under review in that country (78); — Availability of relevant public data in that country; — Where there is more than one possible representative country, preference was given, where appropriate, to the country with an adequate level of social and environmental protection.

(95) As explained in recitals 24 to 25, in the Note of 13 April 2018, the Commission informed interested parties that it had identified six possible representative countries: Argentina, Colombia, Malaysia, Mexico, South Africa, and Thailand and invited interested parties to comment and suggest other countries.

3.2.3.2. A level of economic development similar to the PRC

(96) Argentina, Colombia, Malaysia, Mexico, South Africa, and Thailand are regarded by the World Bank as countries with a similar level of economic development as the PRC, i.e. they are all classified as ‘upper-middle income’ countries on a gross national income (hereinafter ‘GNI’) basis.

(97) The applicant claimed that Mexico's membership of NAFTA integrates it into a North American Free Trade Zone with a level of economic development that is much higher than that of the PRC, possibly having an influence on costs in Mexico. The Commission made an analysis of the appropriateness of the possible representative countries on the basis of the World Bank database on GNI. The latter qualifies Mexico as part of the upper middle-income countries, thus with a level of development comparable to that of the PRC. That category of countries includes countries with GNI per capita between USD 3,896 and USD 12,055 in 2017, the year with the latest trade data available. The rankings apply to each single country and not to groups of countries belonging to free trade areas, customs unions, etc. The Commission considered that all six possible representative countries identified were equally comparable in terms of economic development with the PRC. Consequently, this claim was rejected.

3.2.3.3. Production of the product under review in the representative country and availability of the relevant public data in the representative country

(98) In the Note of 13 April 2018 the Commission indicated that production of the product under review was known to take place in Argentina, Colombia, Malaysia, Mexico, South Africa and Thailand.

(99) The Commission identified that for three of the countries, namely Argentina, Colombia and Thailand, the availability of public data needed to be further verified in particular as far as public financial data from a producer of the product under review was concerned.

(100) For Colombia and Thailand no publicly available financial data from a producer of the product under review were found. Regarding Argentina, the publicly available financial data identified concerned the Ternium group, which was producing the product under review in that country. However, it was not clear from the financial data available for the group which part of the data related to the group's activities in Argentina, since the group reported its data relating to Argentina together with other countries such as Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay. Therefore, the data was not sufficiently precise in order to be used as appropriate benchmarks.

(101) In its comments to the Note of 13 April 2018, the applicant repeated the request indicating that South Africa would be the most appropriate representative country. There were two producers of the product under review. For one producer, namely Safal Steel (Pty) Ltd, the financial data was not publicly available. Although the financial data was available for the other one, namely ArcelorMittal South Africa, the company was loss-making during the investigation period but also during the whole period considered. This rendered it unsuitable to be selected since the financial data of a loss making company would lack the profit element, which is to be replaced. Having found no other producers of the product under review with publicly available financial data in South Africa, the Commission did consider this country inappropriate as representative country.

(102) In its comments to the Note of 3 July 2018, the applicant claimed that the Commission incorrectly rejected South Africa as a representative country, because the fact that the producer of the product under review was loss-making during one year could not be a decisive factor in selecting a representative country.

(103) Since the Commission had ample choice for selecting a representative country, it decided to select a country where a reasonable amount for administrative, selling and general (‘SG&A’) costs and for profits could be sourced from the publicly available data of a company in that country in accordance with the last paragraph of Article 2(6a)(a) of the basic Regulation.

(104) Therefore, the fact that ArcelorMittal South Africa was loss-making was a decisive factor in the Commission's assessment on selecting the representative country and the applicant's claim was rejected.

(105) Regarding Malaysia, financial data were publicly available for CSC Steel Holdings Berhad, a subsidiary of the Taiwanese company China Steel Corporation. CSC Steel Holdings Berhad produced the product under review and was profit making during the review investigation period.

(106) The applicant claimed that relying on publicly available data from foreign owned companies may lead to unreliable data. The Commission considered that the analysis of the reliability of publicly available data has to be done on a case-by-case basis. In the case at hand, no evidence was at the Commission's disposal or was submitted by the applicant which would justify disregarding the financial data of CSC Steel Holdings Berhard. Consequently, that claim was rejected.

(107) For Mexico, the Commission found publicly available data for Ternium group, in particular its Annual Report for 2017. That group is a producer of the product under review in Mexico, and Mexico represents more than 55 % in terms of its consolidated sales, which are reported separately from other geographical regions. In addition, Ternium group was profit making during the review investigation period.

(108) Consequently, the Commission considered that the final choice of representative country was between Malaysia and Mexico.

(109) In its comments, the applicant referred to the United States practice of using a basket of companies ‘active in the metal sector’, such as aluminium producers. However, the Commission gave its preference whenever possible to publicly available data of companies actually producing the product under review. Only if there is no such production or other factors render unsuitable the use of companies producing the product under review in any country with a similar level of economic development, the Commission will consider other suitable alternatives. In the case at hand, this was not necessary since there are actual producers of OCS with publicly available data. Consequently, that claim was rejected.

3.2.3.4. Level of social and environmental protection

(110) Having established that there were two possible countries suitable to be chosen as representative, Mexico and Malaysia, the Commission assessed their level of social and environmental protection to choose the preferable one in accordance with last sentence of Article 2(6a)(a) first indent of the basic Regulation.

(111) The Commission established that Malaysia lags behind in complying with relevant international labour standards and ratification of the ILO conventions referred to in Annex Ia of the basic Regulation. In particular, Malaysia did not ratify three out of the eight ILO core conventions (on freedom of association, on abolition of forced labour, and on non-discrimination). Furthermore, Malaysia has signed but not ratified one of the major environmental agreements (79).

(112) By contrast, Mexico has a higher level of compliance with ILO labour standards as it ratified all core conventions except for the Convention on Right to Organize and to Bargain Collectively. In addition, it has signed and ratified all major environmental conventions.

3.2.3.5. Conclusion

(113) In view of the above analysis, Mexico met all the criteria laid down in Article 2(6a)(a), first indent of the basic Regulation in order to be considered as an appropriate representative country. In particular, Mexico has a substantial production of the product under review and a complete set of data available for all factors of production, manufacturing overheads, SG&A and profit. In addition, Mexico has a higher level of social and environmental protection.

3.2.4. Manufacturing overhead costs, SG&A and profits

(114) In the Note of 3 July 2018, the Commission informed interested parties that for the construction of the normal value it would include SG&A costs and profits from the company Ternium S.A. Mexico, in accordance with Article 2(6a)(a), fourth paragraph of the basic Regulation. In addition, the Commission will include from the same company a value for manufacturing overhead costs in order to cover costs not included in the factors of production referred to above.

(115) In its comments to the Note of 3 July 2018, the applicant claimed that it is preferable to use the non-consolidated data of ArcelorMittal South Africa (a local company) rather than the consolidated data of the Ternium group (a global group) of which the production in Mexico represents more than 55 % of the consolidated sales. The argument was based on the observation that unconsolidated data represented the results of the local company and not the global group, and as such allegedly better reflect the fixed manufacturing overhead, SG&A and profit of the representative country. However, since the data from ArcelorMittal South Africa could not be used, as this company is loss-making, that claim became without object and was therefore rejected.

(116) In its comments to the Note of 3 July 2018, the applicant also claimed that, although Mexico is an appropriate representative country, Ternium S.A. Mexico is part of an international company, Ternium group, whose financial data reflect operations in countries with a different level of economic development.

(117) Regardless of the fact that Ternium group is an international company, the Commission concluded that the publicly available data of Ternium S.A. Mexico was specific enough to the production of the product under review in Mexico and therefore rejected that claim.In view of the analysis in section 3.2.3, the Commission decided to use the financial data from Ternium S.A. Mexico, which are available for 2017, thus covering the review investigation period.

3.2.5. Sources used to establish undistorted costs

(118) In the Note of 3 July 2018, the Commission stated that, in order to construct the normal value in accordance with Article 2(6a)(a) of the basic Regulation, it would use Global Trade Atlas (‘GTA’) to establish the undistorted cost of most of the factors of production. The Commission used Doing Business 2018 for electricity costs, national statistics on natural gas, Fiscal Code of the Federal District for water costs and the financial data from Ternium S.A. Mexico to establish SG&A costs, profits and overhead costs.

3.2.6. Factors of production

(119) As already stated in recital 23, in the Note of 13 April 2018, the Commission sought to establish an initial list of factors of production and sources intended to be used for all factors of production such as materials, energy and labour used in the production of the product under review by the cooperating exporting producer.

(120) In the absence of cooperation by Chinese exporting producers, the Commission relied on the applicant in order to specify the factors of production used in the production of OCS. Indeed, based on the information publicly available on the website of Chinese OCS producers, their production process and materials used appear to be identical to the one provided by the applicant.

(121) The departure point in the process of production was chosen to be the substrate or base coil, as the applicant's production process started from that basis. In addition, based on the information obtained in the initial investigation as best evidence available, the Commission established that the exporting producers also commenced production of OCS based on the substrate. Indeed, in the original case, no integrated producers cooperated.

(122) In the absence of cooperation, the Commission did not have more detailed tariff codes than the 6-digit HS codes provided by the applicant. The HS codes matched fully with the Mexican tariff codes.

(123) Considering all the information submitted by the applicant, the following factors of production and HS codes, where applicable, have been identified: Table 1 Factor of Production HS Code Unit import value Raw Materials Substrate – Hot Dip Galvanized Steel Coil: — plated or coated with zinc 7210 49 0,84 EUR/kg — plated or coated with zinc alloys 7210 49 0,84 EUR/kg Metallic Coating – Zinc ingot (for zinc coating): — < 99,99 % zinc 7901 12 Not applicable — zinc alloys 7901 20 Not applicable Organic Coating — polyester paint 3208 10 4,33 EUR/kg — polyurethane paint 3208 90 4,91 EUR/kg — polyvinylidene fluoride paint 3209 90 3,36 EUR/kg Labour Labour wages in manufacturing sector [N/A] 1,37 EUR/hour Energy Electricity [N/A] 0,06 EUR/kWh Natural Gas [N/A] 0,0034 EUR/MJ Compressed air 2853 90 Not applicable Water [N/A] 3,81 EUR/m3 By product/waste Scrap galvanized steel 7204 29 0,18 EUR/kg

3.2.6.1. Materials

(124) The applicant confirmed that hot dip galvanized steel coil is predominantly used as the substrate for the most representative type of the product under review. Therefore, in the absence of cooperation from exporting producers and comments from interested parties, the Commission did not collect data on other possible substrates, such as hot-rolled steel coil or cold-rolled steel coil.

(125) In respect of metallic coating, the applicant confirmed that the use of zinc coating prevails. Therefore, in the absence of cooperation from exporting producers and comments from interested parties, the Commission did not find it necessary to collect data on metallic coating by means of aluminium.

(126) It is to be noted that the substrate hot dip galvanized steel coil already includes the metallic coating by either zinc or zinc alloys. The data on the use of metallic coating was only collected to allow for adjustments in the calculation of the normal value based on different volumes of zinc or zinc alloys used for metallic coating of the various product types.

(127) The records of the applicant did not allow for determining the consumption of auxiliaries per unit of the product under review. The applicant treated the auxiliaries as manufacturing overheads. Therefore, in the absence of this information, the Commission could not establish usage ratios and undistorted values for the auxiliaries used. However, the Commission established that all auxiliaries taken together amounted to an insignificant proportion of costs of manufacturing per ton of a finished product. In order to properly take into account these costs in the calculation of the constructed normal value, the Commission increased the undistorted costs of manufacturing (covering materials, labour, energy and water) from Mexico by a percentage equal to the share of auxiliaries on the costs of manufacturing provided by the applicant. The Commission considered that this method adequately reflected the share of auxiliaries in the total costs of manufacturing in the constructed normal value.

(128) The applicant did not report any usage of LPG, hydrogen or nitrogen. Therefore, these originally identified factors of production were not used for constructing the normal value.

(129) The applicant further reported that scrap produced in the production process of OCS should be taken into account. In order to do so, the nature of scrap and the corresponding HS code needed to be identified. In this case scrap of galvanized steel was identified (see the table in recital 123).

(130) For all materials and scrap, absent any information on the Mexican market, the Commission relied on import prices. An import price in the representative country was determined as a weighted average of unit prices of imports from all third countries excluding the PRC. The Commission decided to exclude the imports from PRC into the representative country as it concluded in recital 92 that in the present case it is not appropriate to use domestic prices and costs in the PRC due to the existence of significant distortions in accordance with Article 2(6a)(b). On the basis of the evidence available, and absent any rebuttal by interested parties, the Commission considered that the same distortions affected export prices. After excluding PRC, the imports from other third countries remained representative ranging from 94 % to 100 % of total volumes imported to Mexico.

(131) In order to establish undistorted price of materials as delivered at the gate of the exporting producer's factory as provided by Article 2(6a)(a), first indent, the Commission applied import duty of the representative country, Mexico, to the import price and added domestic transport costs. In the absence of cooperation by the exporting producers, the Commission relied on the information on domestic transport costs provided by the applicant.

3.2.6.2. Labour

(132) The ILO statistics provided information on monthly wages in the manufacturing sector and weekly hours worked in Mexico for the review investigation period. The applicant claimed that the data available for South Africa could be adjusted for inflation using the Consumer Price Index or the indices for labour costs in the manufacturing sector published by the South African Reserve Bank. However, since the Commission decided to use Mexico as the appropriate representative country for which these data are available, this claim became moot.

3.2.6.3. Electricity

(133) The price of electricity was readily available in the Doing business 2018 report. This report used a standardised methodology to identify the price of kWh in Mexico.

(134) Alternatively, the Commission considered using the electricity tariffs published by the electricity producers and distributors in Mexico. In Mexico, CFE (Comisión Federal de Electricidad), a state owned company, is the dominant supplier of electricity.

(135) The applicant claimed that the electricity costs quoted in Doing Business 2018 seem artificially low compared to most countries and therefore proposed to use the rates in the area where the product under review was produced, taking into account possible adjustments for the supply channel, specific charges, and VAT.

(136) The applicant failed to provide sufficient evidence showing that such adjustments for VAT, specific charges and supply channels are indeed necessary and applicable to the Chinese exporting producers. Consequently, the Commission rejected this claim and decided to use the most comprehensive and unambiguous data from the Doing business 2018 report.

3.2.6.4. Natural gas

(137) The price of natural gas in Mexico is available in the statistical database maintained by the Commission for Energy Regulation (Comisión Reguladora de Energía). The data provided covers the months of July to December 2017.

(138) The applicant claimed that for South Africa, import price per ton of liquefied natural gas (HS code 2711 11) retrieved from the GTA database could be used and subsequently converted to price per gigajoule. Since the Commission decided to use Mexico as the representative country for which these data are available, it rejected that claim.

3.2.6.5. Compressed air

(139) In addition to the factors of production identified in the Note of 13 April 2018, the applicant informed the Commission that compressed air is being used in the production of the product under review. The compressed air is being purchased in the form of liquid air.

(140) The Commission determined that the appropriate HS code for liquid air is 2853 90. That HS code, however, covers a number of other chemicals. The national tariff schedule of Mexico suggests that there is no further detailed classification. Data obtained from GTA database would, therefore, contain imports of other inorganic compounds (including distilled or conductivity water and water of similar purity) and amalgams, other than amalgams of precious metals.

(141) For the reasons described in the previous recital, the Commission deemed the use of the GTA database inappropriate. It should be noted that the compressed air amounted to an insignificant proportion of costs of manufacturing per ton of finished product. In order to take into account those costs in the calculation of the undistorted normal value, the Commission increased the undistorted costs of manufacturing (covering materials, labour, energy and water) by a percentage equal to the share of the compressed air on the costs of manufacturing provided by the applicant. The Commission considered that this method adequately reflected the share of the compressed air in the total costs of manufacturing in the constructed normal value.

3.2.6.6. Water

(142) In Mexico, water tariffs are decided at the municipal level. In addition, CONAGUA (Comisión Nacional del Agua), the governmental authority for water regulation in Mexico, publishes statistics on water in Mexico, which also provide an overview of the price of water for industrial use in selected municipalities. The most recent edition is, however, from 2016 and covers year 2015.

(143) Consequently, in order to use the prices applicable during the review investigation period, the Commission used the water tariffs of Mexico City. They were readily available in the Fiscal Code of the Federal District as amended in December 2016 and were applicable as of 1 January 2017.

3.2.6.7. Calculations

(144) In order to establish the constructed normal value, the Commission followed the following two steps.

(145) First, the Commission established the undistorted manufacturing costs. In the absence of cooperation by the exporting producers, the Commission then multiplied the usage factors as observed at the level of the applicant's production process for materials, labour, energy and water by the undistorted costs per unit observed in the representative country Mexico. In addition, for those factors of production for which no precise usage factors were provided by the applicant (in particular, auxiliaries and compressed air), the Commission applied a percentage equal to the share of those factors of production on the costs of manufacturing reported by the applicant to the undistorted direct manufacturing costs.

(146) Second, to the manufacturing costs identified above the Commission applied the Ternium S.A. Mexico's manufacturing overhead costs, SG&A and profit. They were identified on the basis of Ternium S.A. Mexico's annual report of 2017 and were expressed as the following percentages:

(147) Manufacturing overheads (80) of 14,12 % applied to the costs of manufacturing (covering the consumption of materials, labour, energy and water);

(148) SG&A (81) of 12,56 % applied to the sum of costs of manufacturing and manufacturing overheads;

(149) A profit (82) of 15,09 % applied to the sum of costs of manufacturing, manufacturing overheads, and SG&A.

(150) On that basis, the Commission constructed the normal value per product type on an ex-work basis in accordance with Article 2(6a)(a) of the basic Regulation. Due to the fact no exporting producers cooperated, the normal value was established on a countrywide basis and not for each exporter and producer separately.

3.2.7. Export price

(151) In the absence of cooperation of Chinese exporting producers, the export price was determined based on CIF Eurostat data corrected to ex-works level.

3.2.8. Comparison and dumping margins

(152) The Commission compared the constructed normal value in accordance with Article 2(6a)(a) of the basic Regulation with the export price on an ex-works basis.

3.2.9. Conclusion

(153) On that basis, the weighted average dumping margin, expressed as a percentage of the CIF Union frontier price, duty unpaid, was 134 %.

(154) The Commission therefore concluded that dumping continued during the review investigation period.

3.3. Likelihood of recurrence of dumping from the PRC

(155) As established above, imports of OCS from the PRC were found to be dumped during the review investigation period, but the level of imports was relatively limited. For the sake of completeness, the Commission also investigated the likelihood of recurrence of dumping should the measures be repealed. The following additional elements were analysed: the production capacity and spare capacity in the PRC, pricing behaviour of exporting producers in the PRC in other markets, the availability of other markets, and the attractiveness of the Union market.

3.3.1. Exports to third countries

(156) During the review investigation period, the volume of imports of OCS from the PRC to the Union, although considered representative as concluded in recital 36, was quite small (around 0,1 % of the total Union consumption). Therefore, the Commission decided to also analyse the data concerning sales of OCS from the PRC to third countries to confirm its finding of continuation of dumping. Dumping calculations were made using the prices for sales to third countries, based on Chinese export statistics.

3.3.1.1. Normal value

(157) The normal value to assess dumping from the PRC to third countries followed recitals 37 to 150.

3.3.1.2. Export price

(158) As there was no cooperation from the Chinese producers, the export price to third countries was based on the data from the China export database as provided by the applicant. From this data presented at FOB level in the database, the Commission deducted the costs of port handling and domestic transport costs in China as estimated by the applicant to calculate the export price at ex-works level.

3.3.1.3. Comparison

(159) The Commission compared the constructed normal value and the export price to countries other than the Union on an ex-works basis.

3.3.1.4. Dumping margin

(160) The above comparison showed a countrywide dumping margin for exports to all third countries (excluding the Union) of 118 %, with the countrywide dumping margin for export to five most important exporting markets (India, Philippines, Russian Federation, South Korea, and Vietnam) ranged from 112 % to 160 %. This further confirmed that the dumping margin determined for exports to the Union was reasonable in spite of the very low volumes of sales.

3.3.2. Production capacity and spare capacity in the PRC

(161) Given the non-cooperation, production capacity and spare capacity in the PRC were established on the basis of facts available and in particular the information provided by the applicant, in accordance with Article 18 of the basic Regulation.

(162) The production capacity in the PRC substantially exceeded the current production volumes. According to China Iron and Steel Association (CISA), the production capacity of colour-coated steel amounted to 40 million tonnes in 2013. With production volumes at the level of 7,5 million tonnes, the capacity utilisation reached only approximately 20 %. Would the measures be repealed, the Chinese producers have sufficient spare capacity estimated at 32,5 million tonnes to flood the Union market, where consumption is 4,5 million tonnes, with dumped OCS.

(163) Based on the above, the Commission concluded that the Chinese exporting producers have significant spare capacity, which they could use to produce OCS to export to the Union market if measures were repealed.

3.3.3. Availability of other markets

(164) Trade defence measures against Chinese OCS exports are in place in India, Malaysia, Pakistan, Turkey and Vietnam, illustrating the same type of pricing behaviour as observed for Chinese exports to the Union.

(165) Therefore, the Commission concluded that, should the current measures be repealed, it is likely that the Chinese exporting producers would redirect exports towards the Union at dumped prices.

3.3.4. Attractiveness of the Union market

(166) During the review investigation period, the Union sales price was by 194-338 EUR per tonne of OCS (or by 28-59 %) higher than the Chinese export price at CIF level to the five main export markets as described in recital 160. It was also by 211-226 EUR per tonne of OCS (or 31-33 %) higher than the average Chinese export price at CIF level to all third countries (excluding the Union). The Chinese exports to the five most important export markets amounted to 48 % of the Union consumption in the review investigation period.

(167) Consequently, would the measures be repealed, the Chinese exporting producers could potentially redirect the exports of substantial volumes of OCS from third countries to the Union market.

3.3.5. Conclusion on the likelihood of recurrence of dumping

(168) In view of the above, the Commission also concluded that, regardless of whether there was dumping during the review investigation period, there is a strong likelihood that dumping will recur should the measures lapse.

3.4. Overall conclusions on the likelihood of continuation or recurrence of dumping

(169) The investigation showed that Chinese imports continued to enter the Union market at dumped prices during the review investigation period. Despite the low import volumes, the dumping margins found correspond to those observed when examining China's exports to third countries. In view of the elements examined in sections 3.3.2 to 3.3.4, the Commission concluded that it is highly likely that Chinese producers would export significant quantities of OCS to the Union at dumped prices, should the measures lapse. Thus, there is evidence of likelihood of continuation of dumping.

(170) In any event, in the alternative, the Commission also found that there was evidence that dumping will likely recur should the measures lapse. The spare capacity in the PRC was very significant in comparison with the Union consumption during the review investigation period. In addition, other markets had in place anti-dumping measures applicable to imports of the product under review from the PRC. This pricing behaviour of the Chinese exporting producers in third markets supports the likelihood of continuation of dumping to the Union, should the measures be allowed to lapse. Finally, the attractiveness of the Union market in terms of size and prices, and the fact that other markets remain closed due to anti-dumping measures, indicated that it is likely that Chinese exports and spare capacity would be directed towards the Union market, should the measures be allowed to lapse. Consequently, the Commission concluded that there was a strong likelihood that the repeal of the anti-dumping measures would result in increased exports of OCS from the PRC to the Union at dumped prices.

(171) In the light of the above, the Commission concluded that the expiry of the anti-dumping measures would be likely to lead to a continuation and, in any case, recurrence of dumping.

4. INJURY

4.1. Union production and Union industry

(172) During the review investigation period OCS was manufactured by more than 20 known producers in the Union, some of them related to one another. Several of those producers belong to steelmaking groups.

(173) The total Union production was estimated at 4 752 003 tonnes during the review investigation period on the basis of the questionnaire responses submitted by the sampled Union producers and data submitted the applicant. The Union producers accounting for the total Union production constitute the Union industry within the meaning of Article 4(1) of the basic Regulation.

4.2. Consumption in the Union

(174) The investigation found that a share of the Union industry uses its production for captive use, that is it is often simply transferred (without invoice) and/or delivered at transfer prices within the same company or group of companies for further downstream processing. In order to provide as complete a picture as possible of the situation of the Union industry, data was obtained and analysed for the entire OCS activity.

(175) As in the original investigation (recitals 68-69 thereof), it was considered that economic indicators such as production, capacity, capacity utilisation, investments, stocks, employment, productivity, wages and ability to raise capital depend upon the whole activity, regardless of whether the production is for captive use or sold on the free market. However, sales volume and sales prices on the Union market, market share, growth, export volume and prices focus on the situation prevailing on the free market (and thus, excluding captive activities). Thus, the injury indicators were corrected for the known captive use and sales in the Union industry, and captive use and sales were analysed separately.

(176) The Union consumption was established on the basis of (i) import statistics at TARIC level using information collected on the basis of Article 14(6) of the basic Regulation and (ii) sales volumes of the Union industry (including captive transactions) in the Union as submitted by the applicant. Those sales volumes were cross-checked and updated when necessary as regards sampled Union producers as a result of the verification visits to their premises.

(177) During the period considered the Union consumption developed as follows: Table 2 2014 2015 2016 RIP Union consumption (tonnes) 3 840 088 3 965 150 4 375 791 4 525 677 Index (2014 = 100) 100 103 114 118 Source: Verified questionnaire replies and Article 14(6) database.

(178) During the period considered, the Union consumption increased by 18 %.

4.3. Imports into the Union from China

(179) The Commission established the volume of imports and prices on the basis of import statistics at TARIC level using information collected on the grounds of Article 14(6) of the basic Regulation.

4.3.1. Volume and market share

(180) Over the period considered imports from China into the Union developed as follows: Table 3 Imports from China 2014 2015 2016 RIP Volume of imports (tonnes) 5 619 4 217 2 958 6 338 Index (2014 = 100) 100 75 53 113 Market share (%) 0,1 0,1 0,1 0,1 Source: Article 14(6) database.

(181) During the period considered the volume of imports from the PRC was low. The Chinese market share fluctuated slightly during the period considered and was 0,1 % in the review investigation period.

(182) The imports have remained at a low level since the imposition of the provisional anti-dumping measures in September 2012. It is assumed that their low level is the result of the anti-dumping measures in force.

4.3.2. Price and price undercutting

(183) Over the period considered the price of imports from China into the Union developed as follows: Table 4 Imports from China 2014 2015 2016 RIP Average import price (EUR/tonne) 341 747 697 637 Index (2014 = 100) 100 219 204 187 Source: Article 14(6) database.

(184) Over the period considered the prices of Chinese imports increased by 87 %. It can be reasonably assumed that this trend is at least partly due to increasing raw material prices.

(185) The average sales prices of the cooperating Union producers to unrelated customers on the Union market were compared to the average prices of imports from China. In the absence of cooperation from Chinese exporting producers, no reliable product type per product type comparisons could be made and imports statistics for the product under review as a whole were used for establishing the average Chinese import price. Due to lack of cooperation from unrelated importers in this expiry review, the estimates contained in the request on the level of the adjustment for post-importation costs were used.

(186) On the basis of that methodology, the comparison showed that during the review investigation period the imports of the product under review undercut the Union industry's prices by 27,8 % (that is, very similar to the undercutting found during the original investigation).

(187) In addition, the analysis of Chinese export prices to other third markets showed that China was selling in some of its main export markets at prices similar to or sometimes even lower than those to the Union, thus reinforcing the conclusion that the current level of Chinese prices would undercut the sales prices of the Union industry in the Union market.

4.4. Imports into the Union from third countries

(188) Table 5 shows the development of imports to the Union from third countries during the period considered in terms of volume and market share, as well as the average price of these imports. Table 5 2014 2015 2016 RIP Volume of imports from India (tonnes) 191 015 136 208 152 511 247 237 Index (2014 = 100) 100 71 80 129 Market share (%) 5,0 3,4 3,5 5,5 Average price (EUR/tonnes) 755 770 680 818 Volume of imports from The Republic of Korea (tonnes) 155 634 131 959 184 637 222 448 Index (2014 = 100) 100 85 119 143 Market share (%) 4,0 3,3 4,2 4,9 Average price (EUR/tonnes) 899 934 785 925 Volume of imports from other third countries 117 938 113 679 134 352 201 981 Index (2014 = 100) 100 96 114 171 Market share (%) 3,1 2,9 3,1 4,5 Average price (EUR/tonnes) 793 798 714 838 Source: Article 14(6) database.

(189) Over the period considered the volume of imports from third countries increased to reach a market share of 14,8 %. Most of these imports were from India and Korea, followed by Turkey and Taiwan.

(190) In general the average price of imports from third countries was higher than the average prices at which Chinese imports entered the Union. Depending on the years the average price of imports from third countries was either higher or lower than the average selling prices of Union producers in the Union.

4.5. Economic situation of the Union industry

(191) Pursuant to Article 3(5) of the basic Regulation, the examination of the impact of the dumped imports on the Union industry included an evaluation of all economic factors and indices having a bearing on the state of the Union industry during the period considered.

(192) The macroeconomic indicators (production, production capacity, capacity utilisation, sales volume, market share, employment, productivity, growth, magnitude of dumping margins and recovery from the effects of past dumping) were assessed at the level of the whole Union industry. The assessment was based on the information provided by the applicant, cross-checked with the verified questionnaire replies of the sampled Union producers.

(193) The analysis of microeconomic indicators (stocks, sale prices, profitability, cash flow, investments, return on investments, ability to raise capital, and wages) was carried out at the level of the sampled Union producers. The assessment was based on their information which was duly verified during an on-spot verification visit.

(194) Given that one of the three sampled companies is not represented by the applicant, pursuant to Article 19 of the basic Regulation the data in Tables 9 to 14 are provided in ranges so as to preserve confidentiality of business-sensitive information.

4.5.1. Macroeconomic indicators

4.5.1.1. Production, production capacity and capacity utilisation

(195) Over the period considered production, production capacity and capacity utilisation of the Union industry developed as follows: Table 6 2014 2015 2016 RIP Production (tonnes) 4 402 079 4 404 178 4 769 698 4 752 003 Index (2014 = 100) 100 100 108 108 Production capacity (tonnes) 5 076 892 5 113 417 5 361 693 5 339 200 Index (2014 = 100) 100 101 106 105 Capacity utilisation (%) 87 86 89 89 Source: Verified questionnaire replies.

(196) Over the period considered there was a modest increase in production volume (+ 8 %) and capacity (+ 5 %), while the capacity utilisation increased by 2 %, to reach 89 %.

4.5.1.2. Sales volume and market share in the Union

(197) Over the period considered sales in the Union by the Union industry (captive transactions included) developed as follows: Table 7 2014 2015 2016 RIP Sales volume (tonnes) 3 369 883 3 579 087 3 901 334 3 847 673 Index (2014 = 100) 100 106 116 114 Market share (of Union consumption) (%) 87,6 90,2 89,1 84,9 Source: Verified questionnaire replies.

(198) The sales by the Union industry on the Union market increased by 14 % during the period considered.

(199) The market share of the Union industry decreased during the period considered to 84,9 %.

4.5.1.3. Employment and productivity

(200) Over the period considered employment level and productivity within the Union industry developed as follows: Table 8 2014 2015 2016 RIP Number of employees (full time equivalent) 5 667 5 685 5 938 6 021 Index (2014 = 100) 100 100 105 106 Productivity (tonnes per employee) 777 775 803 789 Index (2014 = 100) 100 100 103 102 Source: Verified questionnaire replies.

(201) Both employment and productivity of the Union producers' workforce, measured as output (tonnes) per person employed per year, increased during the period considered. Those increases reflect the overall increase in production and sales volume.

4.5.1.4. Growth

(202) The Union industry managed to benefit from growth on the Union market even if facilities that had been more affected by the lower capacity utilisation observed during the original investigation are still in a recovery phase. The Union industry kept significant market shares during the whole period considered.

4.5.1.5. Magnitude of dumping and recovery from past dumping

(203) Dumping continued during the review investigation period at a significant level, as explained under section 3 above. It is noted that Chinese producers undercut Union industry's sales prices to a significant extent and that the Union industry is still in a fragile situation.

(204) Since the volumes of the dumped imports from China were much lower than during the original investigation period, the Commission concluded that the impact of the magnitude of the dumping margin on the Union industry was significantly less pronounced than in the original investigation.

4.5.2. Microeconomic indicators

4.5.2.1. Stocks

(205) Over the period considered stocks levels of the sampled Union producers developed as follows: Table 9 2014 2015 2016 RIP Stocks (tonnes) 68 500 – 71 500 52 000 – 55 000 72 000 – 75 000 83 000 – 86 000 Index (2014 = 100) 100 77 106 120 Source: Verified questionnaire replies of the sampled Union producers.

(206) The Union producers increased their stock in the period considered. This indicator, however, is not considered to be very relevant to assess the economic situation of the Union producers. OCS is mostly produced on the basis of orders. In any event, the stocks merely represented around 2 % of the total sales during the RIP.

4.5.2.2. Average unit