European Commission launched safeguard investigation into ferroalloy imports

Ferroalloy imports increased significantly from 1.3 million tons in 2020 to 1.6 million tons by mid-2024. The Commission analyses the current situation to determine whether this increase is adversely affecting EU producers. The investigation is expected to examine how factors such as global overcapacity, production increases outside the EU, decreasing EU consumption and third country trade measures have contributed to the increase in imports.

The Commission stated that import prices were significantly below EU prices, which put significant pressure on the market share and profitability of EU producers. This resulted in low or negative profit levels for EU producers, with the risk that imports could increase further in the future.

Ferroalloy imports increased from 126% to 298% of total production and from 71% to 83% of total consumption, showing the scale of the increase in imports. With over 21 million tons of existing overcapacity and over 13 million tons of planned capacity increases worldwide, overcapacity in the global market could increase the pressure on EU producers.

The Commission is assessing the import conditions of the products under investigation, trade diversion and its impact on EU producers, and announcing its findings within nine months at the latest. The investigation is being conducted in accordance with Regulations (EU) 2015/478 and (EU) 2015/755.

The products under investigation include;