Imported aluminium extrusions from South Korea hit with new anti-dumping margins; Automotive sector to see minimal effect

The US Department of Commerce has set a maximum anti-dumping margin of 3.13 per cent on aluminium extrusions imported from South Korea. According to the South Korean government, this decision is expected to have a limited direct impact on the automotive industry.

On September 27, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced its final determination regarding anti-dumping duties on aluminium extrusions from 14 countries, including South Korea, China, Colombia, Ecuador, and India, said the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy.

Almac exempted from anti-dumping duties

Notably, Almac, one of the South Korean companies, has been exempted from anti-dumping duties, receiving a calculated margin of 0 per cent. In contrast, other companies, like Shinyang Metal, will face a 3.13 per cent margin.

U.S. complainants initially claimed a dumping margin of 66.4 per cent. If this margin had been implemented, it would have resulted in similar duties on automotive parts that primarily utilise aluminium extrusions, raising serious concerns for exporters to the U.S. A ministry official stated, “Thanks to a rapid response from both the public and private sectors, a lower duty of 3.13% was imposed, reducing the burden on the automotive industry.”

The dumping margins for other major countries are significantly higher, with China at a minimum of 4.25 per cent, Mexico at 7.42 per cent, and Colombia at 7.11 per cent, all exceeding the maximum 3.13 per cent imposed on South Korean companies. The final application of anti-dumping duties on aluminium extrusions is expected around November 12, when the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) will evaluate the impact on the U.S. industry and confirm the results.