Czech aluminium producers welcome duty on Chinese imports

Czech aluminium producers and processors welcome the European Union's decision to impose temporary duties of up to 48 percent on aluminium extrusions from China, according to companies polled by CTK.

The excessively low prices of Chinese producers have been liquidating competitors in Europe, the companies said. The Czech Republic ranks among importers rather than exporters of aluminium extrusions, so the adopted measures will not primarily protect Czech producers, Raiffisenbank analyst Vit Hradil noted.

The exclusion of extremely cheap Chines competitiors can lead to a moderate increase in aluminium extrusion prices on the Czech market, he added. "The volume of aluminium imports to the Czech Republic does not, however, reach significant values, so the potential price hike will not have a dramatic impact on the domestic industry," Hradil said.

Imports of aluminium products from China acccount for less than 5 percent in total aluminium imports to the Czech Republic. The duties will therefore be viewed negatively by those importers who have been importing the cheaper aluminium extrusions from China, Lukas Martin of the Confederation of Industry said.

Source: ČTK