The review of final anti-dumping measures regarding imports of steel welded pipes from Turkey has been postponed once again — this time for another two weeks. This was announced by Oleksandr Kalenkov, President of the Ukrmetallurgprom Public Association, in a column for Interfax-Ukraine, as cited by RBC-Ukraine. According to him, more than a year has passed since Ukrainian pipe manufacturers submitted their application regarding the need for protection against dumped imports, while previous anti-dumping measures have also not been introduced despite relevant business appeals. "Frankly speaking, it is hard to understand such procrastination," Kalenkov stated.
Chronology of Procrastination and Assessment of Industry Losses
According to the president of Ukrmetallurgprom, about eight Ukrainian pipe enterprises continue to incur losses amid growing Turkish imports. The volume of pipe supplies from Turkey, by his estimate, has tripled compared to 2021. Kalenkov claims that Turkish products are displacing Ukrainian ones due to dumping prices that can be lower than the cost of production in Ukraine. Each month of delay, in his estimate, increases pressure on domestic producers: enterprises are losing orders, reducing production volumes, and having fewer resources for recovery. It was previously reported that the total volume of Turkish imports from Russian raw materials is already comparable to the annual output of a medium-sized Ukrainian pipe enterprise.
Risk of Russian Raw Materials in Defense Projects
Kalenkov singled out Turkey's significant potential for further scaling up supplies to Ukraine as a separate risk. The free production capacities of Turkish enterprises are several times higher than Ukraine's consumption volumes, while relative to Turkish products trade restrictions are in effect in key export markets — the US, EU, and UK. Industry representatives are particularly alarmed by the use of Russian metallurgical raw materials by certain Turkish manufacturers. "It is terrifying to imagine that Russian steel might be used in pipe products utilized for constructing anti-drone corridors and other defense facilities in Ukraine due to the lack of trade measures," Kalenkov stated.
Criticism Addressed to the Ministry of Economy
The president of Ukrmetallurgprom also criticized the work of the Ministry of Economy and Environment and its head Oleksandr Kravchenko. In his opinion, the agency has effectively dissociated itself from making decisions necessary to protect Ukrainian industry. "Ukrainian industry expects not new postponements and far-fetched reasons for refusal, but responsible and timely actions to protect its own economy," he stressed. Kalenkov warned that further procrastination could have wider consequences for the entire industry.
Threat of Capacity Mothballing and Job Losses
According to Kalenkov's assessment, if the current course is maintained, there is a risk that in the near future not only AMKR (Antonov Metallurgical Plant) but also dozens of other Ukrainian producers will mothball their capacities. This, he says, means the loss of tens of thousands of jobs, tax revenues, and foreign currency earnings for the state. Thus, the issue of anti-dumping protection for the pipe industry goes beyond the interests of a specific sector and affects macroeconomic stability and employment in Ukraine's metallurgical cluster.
