The US International Trade Commission (ITC) has today made a final negative determination in its investigation concerning UAN solutions from Russia and Trinidad and Tobago. Ultimately, the decision confirms that product from both major offshore suppliers will not be subject to anti-dumping or countervailing duties.
The ITC and Department of Commerce (DOC) have been running concurrent investigations since July 2021 in response to petitions filed by CF Industries.
The latest news will no doubt have a significant impact on the US market, as well as global UAN trade flows. Indeed, the latter have been in a state of flux since the introduction of preliminary duties in the US last year, as well as following the onset of war in Ukraine.
The vote runs counter to the earlier affirmative preliminary determination made by the ITC in August 2021.
The DOC had previously issued findings on 21 June stating that imports from Russia are dumped at rates of 8.16% to 122.93%, and unfairly subsidized at a rate of 6.27% to 9.66%.
With regard to product from Trinidad, it concluded that UAN is dumped at a rate of 111.71% and subsidized at a rate of 1.83%.
Today’s news from the ITC will be welcomed by affected producers in Trinidad and Russia. An affirmative decision by the ITC would have ushered in duties at the above rates for at least five years.
Clearly, US producers take a different view. Commenting on the latest news, Tony Will, president and chief executive office of CF Industries Holdings, Inc said:
“We are disappointed that the International Trade Commission has determined the U.S. UAN industry has not been harmed by the unfair trade practices from state-subsidized entities underpinning UAN imports from Russia and Trinidad that were clearly established through thorough and impartial investigations by the U.S. government.”
“Unfortunately, this outcome will perpetuate an unlevel playing field for a domestic industry that has invested billions of dollars in the U.S. to ensure American farmers have a reliable source of UAN fertilizer.”
Impact on global trade flows
Another revision of global UAN trade flows is now on the cards. Indeed trade flows, both to the US and globally, have adjusted considerably since the earlier introduction of preliminary tariffs.
Shipments from Trinidad have been focused on Europe and Latin America (primarily Argentina), as well as further afield markets, such as Australia.
With Russian product struggling to find outlets, shipments to the US resumed earlier this year and were expected, albeit at reduced levels, to continue to flow despite the potential for high tariffs.
With regard to US supply, in 2021, 2.50m. tonnes of UAN were imported to the USA. Of the total 1.06m. tonnes were from Russia and 835,000t were from Trinidad.
In 2020, 2.39m. tonnes of UAN were imported of which 1.04m. tonnes were from Russia and 904,000t were from Trinidad.
The news comes as the market awaits the announcement of summer fill pricing in the USA.
By Chris Yearsley, Editor, Profercy Nitrogen
