[SMM Hot Topic] Malaysia Initiates Anti-dumping Investigation on Tin-plated (Coated) Flat-rolled Products of Iron or Non-alloy Steel from China. What Are the Specifics?

• Timeline
• August 15, 2024

The Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) of Malaysia issued a notice to initiate an anti-dumping investigation into Flat-rolled Products of iron or non-alloy steel, of a width of 600mm or more, clad, plated or coated with tin (electrolytic tinplate or tinplate) originating in or imported from China, India, Japan, and South Korea, in response to an application submitted by Perusahaan Sadur Timah Malaysia (Perstima) Berhad, a domestic producer, on July 15, 2024.

• January 13, 2025

On January 13, 2025, the MITI of Malaysia issued a notice to make a preliminary affirmative determination in the anti-dumping investigation into Flat-rolled Products of iron or non-alloy steel, of a width of 600mm or more, clad, plated or coated with tin (electrolytic tinplate or tinplate) originating in or imported from China, India, Japan, and South Korea, and decided to impose a provisional anti-dumping duty for a period not exceeding 120 days on the products in question from the aforementioned countries.

Table 1 - Preliminary Anti-Dumping Duties Imposed by Malaysia on Flat-rolled Products of Iron or Non-Alloy Steel, Clad, Plated or Coated with Tin, from China

• May 6, 2025

On May 6, 2025, the MITI of Malaysia issued a notice to make a final affirmative determination in the anti-dumping investigation into Flat-rolled Products of iron or non-alloy steel, of a width of 600mm or more, clad, plated or coated with tin (electrolytic tinplate or tinplate) originating in or imported from China, India, Japan, and South Korea, and decided to impose anti-dumping duties on a CIF (Cost, Insurance, and Freight) basis on the producers/exporters of the products in question from the aforementioned countries. The products involved in this case fall under the Malaysian Harmonized System (HS) codes and ASEAN Harmonized Tariff Nomenclature (AHTN) codes 7210.11.90 00 and 7210.12.90 00. The measure will be valid for five years, effective from May 11, 2025, and will expire on May 10, 2030.

Table 2 - Final Anti-Dumping Duties Imposed by Malaysia on Flat-rolled Products of Iron or Non-Alloy Steel, Clad, Plated or Coated with Tin, from China

• The products in question accounted for 2.87% of China's total exports.

The specific types and affected volumes of Flat-rolled Products of iron or non-alloy steel, clad, plated or coated with tin, from China, subject to anti-dumping measures by Malaysia, are as follows:

Table 3 - Products Affected by Anti-Dumping Measures on Flat-rolled Products of Iron or Non-Alloy Steel, Clad, Plated or Coated with Tin, from China, and Total Annual Exports in 2024 (mt)

According to data from the General Administration of Customs of China, in 2024, the total volume of the products in question exported from China to Malaysia was only 49,000 mt, while the total volume of the products in question exported from China was 1.705 million mt, accounting for 2.87% of China's total exports of Flat-rolled Products of iron or non-alloy steel, clad, plated or coated with tin.

Figure 1 - Total Export Volume of China's Products Involved in the Case and Their Proportion in Exports to Malaysia

Data source: SMM, General Administration of Customs of China

• Malaysia has initiated antidumping investigations against China's building materials and sheets & plates products, and will announce the ruling results this year.

Overall, the antidumping products involved in Malaysia account for 2.87% of China's total exports of tin-plated (coated) iron or non-alloy steel flat-rolled products, representing a relatively small proportion. The export destinations where antidumping products account for more than 5% of the total export volume include Italy, Mexico, UAE, Belgium, and the US. The current varieties and specific progress of Malaysia's antidumping investigations against China's steel products are as follows.

Table 4 - Varieties and Progress of Malaysia's Antidumping Investigations against China's Steel Products, 2024-2025