The US International Trade Commission has maintained its antidumping order on small diameter graphite electrodes from China during its second sunset review.
The USITC determined that revoking the order on graphite electrodes imported from China could result in material injury to the domestic industry.
The petition was launched Jan 17, 2008 by SGL Carbon and Superior Graphite, two domestic small diameter graphite electrodes producers.
On Feb 26, 2009, the Department of Commerce published an AD duty order on small diameter graphite electrodes imported from China, with 132.9-159.64pc deposits on the material. On May 1, 2019, the DOC launched a sunset review pursuant to section 751(c) of the Tariff Act of 1930 to determine whether revocation of the order could lead to continued or renewed material injury to the domestic industry.
The order affects small diameter graphite electrodes of any length, finished and unfinished, used in furnaces and with a nominal or actual diameter of 400 millimeters (16 inches) or less, attached or not to a joining system or hardware.
Small diameter graphite electrodes are produced from various grades of petroleum coke, and are used in ladle metallurgy and specialty furnace applications in industries including foundries, smelters, and steel refining operations.
According to USITC data, the US imported 125,948mt small diameter graphite electrodes in 2019, down by 33pc from 187,868mt in 2018. In 2019, Mexico was the largest importer (23,542mt), followed by China (21,903mt), then Japan (17,669mt). US imports of Chinese small diameter graphite electrodes decreased by 72pc in 2019 from 77,049mt in 2018.