The US Department of Commerce began an antidumping investigation into imports of ferrovanadium from South Korea on Tuesday, the US International Trade Administration said.
The move follows a petition filed by the Vanadium Producers and Reclaimers Association and its members AMG Vanadium, Bear Metallurgical Company, Culf Chemical Corporation and Evraz Stratcor last month.
The product covered under the investigation covers all grades of ferrovanadium, regardless of chemistry, shape and size, the ITA statement said.
In 2015, imports of ferrovanadium were valued at $16 million.
The original filing quoted US import data for 2013, 2014 and 2015. In 2015, the US imported 1.67 million lb of contained vanadium, up from 1.23 million lb in 2014 and 784,156 lb in 2015.
The petition said the South Korean share of the US market rose to 24.6% in 2015 from 15.2% in 2014 and 9.7% in 2013.
The US International Trade Commission is scheduled to make its preliminary injury determination on or before May 12, 2016. If the ITC determines the imports from South Korea materially injure or threaten injury to the US domestic ferrovanadium industry, the investigation will continue and Commerce will be scheduled to make its preliminary determination in September, the ITA said.
If the ITC's preliminary investigation is negative, the investigation will be discontinued, the ITA added.
