Philippines launches safeguard investigation on imported cement from VN

The Philippines started a preliminary safeguard investigation on the importation of cement from various countries, including Việt Nam. — Photo cafef.vn

HÀ NỘI — The Philippines notified Việt Nam that it has initiated a preliminary safeguard investigation on the importation of cement from various countries, including Việt Nam, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

According to the notification issued on September  二 四, the investigation was initiated on September  一0 for some cement products exported to the Philippines in the period of  二0 一 三- 一 七.

The investigation was based on import data obtained from official sources and information submitted by members of the Cement Manufacturers Association of the Philippines showing that increased imports of cement are a substantial cause of serious injury to the domestic industry in terms of declining market share, production sales, capacity utilisation, profitability, price depression, suppression and undercutting.

The investigation has been initiated to determine whether safeguard measures are warranted.

A review by the Philippines’ Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) found that imports grew  七0 per cent year-on-year in  二0 一 四;  四, 三 九 一 per cent in  二0 一 五;  五 四 九 per cent in  二0 一 六 and  七 二 per cent in  二0 一 七.

The DTI said Việt Nam was the country with the largest export volume to the Philippines during the period  二0 一 四- 一 七, reported cafef.vn.

According to the existing regulations of the Philippines, the exporters and importers, organisations inside and outside the Philippines have the right to express their opinions and co妹妹ents about this investigation, including co妹妹ents on the impact of applying the safeguard measure to the public interest.

Meanwhile, DTI required Vietnamese exporters that are already identified by the investigating authorities to respond to the questionnaire in the case.

Việt Nam’s General Department of Customs said in the first seven months this year, Việt Nam’s cement exports to the Philippines increased by  二 三. 五 per cent in volume to  三. 四 九 million tonnes and  二 八. 一 per cent in value to US$ 一 五 九. 七 三 million. Price increased by  三. 八 per cent to $ 四 五. 三 per tonne.

Exports

According to the Ministry of Construction, Việt Nam exported  二 三. 二 八 million tonnes cement in the first nine months this year,  六 六 per cent higher than the same period last year.

This figure was  三- 四 million tonnes higher than the export target at  一 八- 一 九 million for the whole year, reported chinhphu.vn.

During the first nine months, the domestic cement industry’s total consumption of cement reached  七 二. 八 二 million tonnes, including  四 九. 五 四 million tonnes in the domestic market.

Of that, the cement consumption volume in September reached  七. 八 八 million tonnes,  一 四 per cent higher than the same period last year, including  五. 六 八 million tonnes for the domestic market and  二. 二 million tonnes for export. — VNS