Bodegraven Metaal provides its perspective on the ongoing investigation into anti-dumping measures for headless screws arriving in Europe from China. Igor Liberloo, Sales Director writes.
In recent years, concerns have grown over the dumping of goods from China into the European market, driven by unauthorised subsidies provided by the Chinese government to local manufacturers. These subsidies—ranging from financial support and low-interest loans to tax rebates—enable Chinese companies to produce goods at artificially low prices, creating an uneven playing field for European businesses. The resulting influx of Chinese products undermines local prices and threatens the survival of European Industries.
In response, the European Commission has launched an investigation into anti-dumping measures targeting Chinese Imports, specifically focusing on "screws without heads," with threaded rods (DIN 976-1) comprising the majority of this category.
The disparity in pricing between the EU and China is stark, and European production volumes in this sector have reached unprecedented lows. In 2023, production levels were the lowest in history, a trend that continued into 2024. At Bodegraven Metaal, our production volumes have similarly decreased, falling to approximately one-third of 2021 levels, as we increasingly turned to imports from China to meet demand. This alarming trend prompted the EU to accelerate its investigation, which is expected to result in the introduction of anti-dumping duties in 2025.
Several uncertainties remain, including the effective start date and the percentage rate of the duties. Market speculation suggests the anti-dumping measures could be enforced as early as Q1 2025, even though the final decision is not expected until late 2025.
For the measures to have a meaning- ful impact, the rates must be substantial. Comparisons to past anti-dumping decisions or existing rates (e.g. on bolts) are irrelevant and may not serve as reliable indicators, as the duties could be higher than everyone expects, reflecting the urgency and severity of the current situation.
Questions also linger about whether distinctions will be made between lower-quality grades such as 4.8 and higher grades like 8.8 and above. At Bodegraven Metaal, we are proactively preparing for the outcome of this investigation. Our strategies are focused on adapting swiftly to any changes, ensuring we remain competitive regardless of the final decision.
What is certain, however, is our commitment to increasing production capacity across all quality grades. This is the core objective of anti-dumping measures: preserving European production, safeguarding local jobs, and fostering competition with China through innovation and fair pricing. Our ultimate aim is to secure a sustainable future for Bodegraven Metaal, our industry peers, and, most importantly, the loyal customers who have supported us through good times and challenging ones.
