BILT anti-dumping probe to come up next month

According to DGAD’s initial findings, there is sufficient evidence that the normal value of the coated paper in EU and Indonesia is significantly higher than the net export price indicating, prima facie, that coated paper (including paper and paperboard of 80 gsm and above) is being dumped by exporters from EU and Indonesia. The probe is being carried out on a sample period between January 1 and December 31, 2002.

A BILT official said the company had filed a petition before the designated authority requesting an anti-dumping investigation and levy of anti-dumping duties on coated paper originating in or exported from Indonesia and EU. “We do not want to comment further on the issue at this juncture,” the official said.

Stating that Bilt and other domestic coated paper manufacturers have collectively and cumulatively suffered material injury on account of dumping, Bilt has drawn the attention of DGAD towards a significant jump in imports of coated paper from EU and Indonesia.

In its petition, it has also indicated the significant increase in market share of imports as a proportion to total demand, decrease in market share held by Indian producers, decrease in sales value and unit price, low return on investment, price undercutting and price suppression. The Gurgaon-based Bilt Graphics claims to produce 95 per cent of coated paper in the country. Bilt has said there is no difference between the products manufactured by them and the corresponding goods imported from Indonesia and EU.

Other two companies, Ballarpur Industries and BILT Industrial Packaging account for 1.94 per cent and 2.11 per cent of the domestic production respectively. The product under investigation is used for high quality printing jobs including various magazines, publicity material, calendars, posters and books.