FILE PHOTO: Biodiesel is seen through a tube at a biodiesel refinery in San Lorenzo, Argentina February 26, 2010. REUTERS/Enrique Marcarian/File Photo
WASHINGTON/CHICAGO: The US International Trade Commission (ITC) voted on Friday to continue a US Commerce Department investigation into alleged dumping and unfair subsidies of biodiesel fuels from Argentina and Indonesia, moving a step closer to punitive US duties.
The 5-0 decision followed the initiation of Commerce Department probes in April after US biodiesel producers claimed that soaring imports from Argentina and Indonesia were dumped at prices below production costs, harming their ability to produce the fuels.
The next step in the probe is for the US Commerce Department to determine whether to impose preliminary anti-dumping duties and anti-subsidy duties.
Futures prices for soyoil, the most common feedstock used in US biodiesel production, surged nearly 3% ahead of the vote before trimming gains. CBOT soyoil for July delivery was up 0.64 cent to US$33.13 cents per pound at midday, off its earlier six-week high of US$33.47.
Archer Daniels Midland Co, a major US biodiesel producer, praised the ITC vote.
“The facts clearly show that Argentina and Indonesia are engaging in unfair trade practices, and we are confident that duties will be imposed when the final decision is made,” said
Ray Bradbury, president of biodiesel at ADM, one of the petitioners for the dumping investigation.
Imports of soy-based biodiesel from Argentina and palm oil-based biodiesel from Indonesia rose 464% from 2014 to 2016, according to the National Biodiesel Board (NBB).
US biodiesel imports in 2016 hit a record 916 million gallons (3.5 billion litres), according to US government data.
Argentina represented about two-thirds, followed by Indonesia and Canada. The imports accounted for nearly half of US biodiesel demand for 2 billion gallons.
“Today’s decision in our favour is an important next step for the US biodiesel producers suffering because of the flood of imports,” said Anne Steckel, vice president of federal affairs at NBB. - Reuters
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