Malaysia has ended an investigation into dumping of rebar from China and South Korea after a preliminary investigation found prices were fair and there was no harm to domestic producers. This is despite China’s surge in steel exports last year, Kallanish observes. Malaysia’s Federal Government Gazette announced the termination on 29 January, a day before the extended deadline for the investigation, after the finding was submitted on 27 January.

The case will be a disappointment for Malaysia’s Ann Joo Steel, which originally brought the suit. China’s exporters will no doubt welcome the unusual news. China’s finished steel exports soared 50.5% in 2014 to 93.78 million tonnes and dozens of investigations are underway into alleged dumping of Chinese steel prices. These are expected to significantly impact the flow of Chinese steel exports starting this year.

The Malaysian investigation was into straight rebar 6 meters long or less, under HS codes 7214 and 7228. It excluded non-deformed bar within those codes. The investigation was initially due to be completed by 1 January but the deadline was extended to 30 January, Kallanish notes.

The ministry said the export price of Chinese and Korean rebar was above normal value or at de minimis (usually within 1% of what is deemed a fair level). It added that there was “…no material injury on the domestic industry in Malaysia producing the like product that can reasonably be linked to the importation of the subject merchandise.”