The EU introduces protective measures against imports of ferroalloys based on silicon and manganese
The European Commission said in a statement on November 18 that it had approved final protective measures for imports of certain ferroalloys into the EU, including from Norway and Iceland, but would be conducting three-month consultations with the Nordic countries, while analyzing the impact of the measures that would be in effect over the next three months. for a period of three years, expiring on November 17, 2028.
The European Commission said it had taken an important step to protect the EU's 1,800-person ferroalloy industry by introducing tariff quotas for specific countries that aim to reduce duty-free imports of ferromanganese, ferrosilicon, ferrosilicon manganese and ferrosilicon magnesium to 75% of their previous volumes.
Between 2022 and 2024, the EU imported on average just under 1.4 million metric tons of four ferroalloys per year, with ferromanganese, ferrosilicon and ferrosilicon manganese accounting for 28%, 34% and 37% of the total, respectively. Norway, India and Iceland supplied 535,000 tons, 273,000 tons and 71,000 tons respectively, which together accounted for 65% of the total. The bulk of the remaining imports came from South Africa, Malaysia, Zambia and Kazakhstan.
.During the first 12-month period during which the protective measures will be in effect, the three largest suppliers — Norway, India and Iceland — were granted quotas of approximately 401,410 tons, 197,030 tons and 53,060 tons, respectively; duty-free discounts for other suppliers represent a reduction in the same proportion, according to the Commission's notification.
Imports exceeding quotas can be imported into the EU if their price exceeds the thresholds set at 1,316 euros per ton of ferromanganese, 2,408 euros per ton of ferrosilicon, 1,392 euros per ton of ferrosilicon manganese and 3,647 euros per ton/ton for ferrosilicon-magnesium alloys. Imported goods imported outside the quotas at a lower price are subject to a duty equivalent to the difference between the net price at the border of the Union and the thresholds.
Protective measures should be enough for ferroalloy manufacturers in the EU to regain their share of the domestic market, which exceeded 30% four years ago, said Marco Levi, CEO of Ferroglobe and president of Euroalliages, the European Association of Ferroalloy and Silicon Manufacturers, in an interview with Platts, part of the S&P Global Commodities Market Survey. For example, in a recent interview.
The decision to impose additional tariffs, along with minimum prices, was made after an investigation launched in December 2024, which concluded that the influx of imports of these ferroalloys into the EU was harming local industry. In the period from 2019 to 2024, imports increased