Brazil's ministry of foreign trade has started an antidumping investigation against imports of austenitic stainless steel tubes from Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, it said Thursday in a statement.

The investigation is looking at imports between October 2015 and September 2016 of welded tubes of austenitic stainless steel (grades 304 and 316) of circular section, with an outside diameter of 6mm (1/4 inch) or more but less than 2,032 mm (80 inches), with a thickness of 0.40 mm or more and less than or equal to 12.70 mm, usually classified under HS codes 7306.40.00 and 7306.90.20.

The complaint was filed January 31 by tubes and pipes producers Aperam Inox Tubos Brasil and Marcegaglia do Brasil. Aperam is the country's sole producer of austenitic stainless steel.

Chinese exporters of welded tubes under HS code 7306.40.00 already face definitive dumping duties ranging from $359.66/mt to $911.71/mt, applied in July 29, 2013.

Source: http://www.platts.com