The investigation has been initiated in response to an application filed with the NTC by Ibrahim Fibres Limited, Dewan Salman Fibre Limited and ICI Pakistan Limited on behalf of the domestic producers of PSF.
The domestic industry of PSF comprises of five units with an installed production capacity of 630600 MT per annum on a three shift basis. All the five units are operational. PSF is mainly used in the manufacturing of textile fabrics and garments.
Its imports in the recent past have increased from 1139.27 metric tonnes in 2004-05 to 28737.84 metric tonnes in 2005-06.
An official announcement said the NTC would probe whether PSF was being dumped into Pakistan by the foreign producers/exporters of the three countries and whether the domestic industry producing PSF has suffered due to this. In the notice of initiation, the NTC has asked the interested parties to apply for registration within 10 days after the publication of the notice. As per the procedures laid down in the Ordinance and Anti-Dumping Duties Rules, 2001, the NTC for the purpose of gathering information, was expected to send questionnaires to the foreign exporters, producers and importers of the product, asking them to provide information within 37 days.
After the information has been received from the interested parties followed by examination by the commission, the NTC will make a preliminary determination. Under the Ordinance, the NTC could not make a preliminary determination sooner than 60 days from the date of initiation of investigation. If an affirmative preliminary determination of dumping and injury is made, then a provisional anti-dumping dumping duty (equal to the amount of dumping margin) may be applied for a period of 4 months.
This is the 22nd investigation initiated by the NTC under the ordinance. The NTC has imposed definitive anti-dumping duties on Tinplate imported from South Africa, Sorbitol 70pc solution imported from France and Indonesia, Glacial Acetic Acid imported from Taiwan, Acrylic Tow imported from Uzbekistan, PVC Resin (suspension grade) imported from Korea and Iran, Urea Formaldehyde Moulding Compound imported from China, Pthalic Anhydride imported from India and Formic Acid imported from Finland and Germany.
The 21st investigation into the alleged dumping of Ceramic Tiles has reached an advanced stage according to the schedule of investigation given in the respective notice of initiation, added the announcement.