The EU Commission has opened an anti dumping investigation into decor papers coming from China. These are papers used in applications like printed wooden flooring, furniture and ceramic surfaces.
Four of Europe’s major producers of these materials have welcomed the decision having filed a joint complaint. In a joint statement, they say: “We strongly believe that this measure is essential to prevent further harm to the European decor paper industry and to maintain fair and healthy competition within the European market.”
They have pointed to the support given to Chinese producers which enables them to sell the speciality paper in the EU at unfairly low prices “causing significant damage to the European industry”. The complaint calls for anti dumping duties to ensure a level playing field for all suppliers.
The papers that are causing concern are 30-150gsm, come on the web on reels to 300mm. It excludes wallpapers and papers impregnated with a number of substances.
The four key producers have provided proof that there has been a marked rise in imports from China, gaining market share at the expense of European producers.
Around 390,000 tonnes of decor papers are produced in seven EU member states, supporting thousands of jobs. The paper itself is used for laminate flooring, kitchen worktops, furniture, weather resistant outdoor applications and furniture, They are typically impregnated with thermosetting resins which join the printed or simply coloured paper to a relatively low cost wooden backing to give the impression of a higher value, or if printed digitally, a one-off product with a lifespan for more than 20 years.
One of the producers involved is German mill Koehler. CEO Kai Furler says: “Our top priority is to ensure fair competitive conditions and to prevent the EU market to be flooded with unfairly priced decor paper.“
Felix Schoeller says that the opening of the investigation is a “pivotal step towards preventing further material harm to the European decor paper industry”.
Munkksjö is another of the key producers, operating six sites and with 1,200 employees across five countries, including China,
There is no timescale for how long the EU’s investigation might take, nor what kind of duties may be imposed. It can be seen as a continuation of trade hostilities between the EU and China. This has include electric vehicles and recycled PET bottles from China and pork products sold into the country from Europe.
Tariffs are already in place on imports of dated fine paper coming from China. These were renewed in November last year which ruled that subsidies enabled Chinese producers to maintain production capacities at unnaturally high levels in the face of shrinking demand, indicating that without the barriers, the European market might be flooded with Chinese products.
