On 03 July 2026, the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (ITAC) published the final determination of its Sunset Review of the anti-dumping duties on gypsum plasterboard classifiable under tariff subheading 6809.11, originating in or imported from Indonesia and Thailand.
In accordance with ITAC’s provisions of Section 53 of the Anti-Dumping Regulations and Article 11.3 of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on the Implementation of Article VI of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), any definitive anti-dumping duty shall be terminated on a date not later than five years from its imposition, unless the authorities determine, in a review initiated before that date, on their own initiative or upon a duly substantiated request made by or on behalf of the domestic industry within a reasonable period of time prior to that date, that the expiry of duties would likely lead to the recurrence of dumping and material injury to the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) industry.
On 07 June 2024, ITAC through a Government Gazette notified interested parties that unless a substantiated request was made by or on behalf of the South African Customs Union (SACU) industry before 29 September 2024, indicating that the expiry of the anti-dumping duties on gypsum plasterboard originating in or imported from the Indonesia and Thailand would likely result in the recurrence of dumping and injury, the anti-dumping duty on such imports would expire on 27 August 2025.
On 21 July 2025, a Sunset Review application was received from Saint-Gobain Products South Africa (Pty) Ltd, supported by Etex South Africa Building System (Pty) Ltd. After all deficiencies were identified and addressed, a properly documented letter was sent to Saint-Gobain Products on 11 August 2025.
The application alleged that the expiry of the anti-dumping duties would likely lead to the recurrence of dumping and material injury to the SACU market. Saint-Gobain Products submitted sufficient evidence and established a prima facie case, enabling ITAC to reach a reasonable conclusion that a sunset review investigation of the anti-dumping duties on gypsum plasterboard originating in or imported from Indonesia and Thailand should be initiated.
On 20 August 2025, ITAC initiated a sunset review of the anti-dumping duty on gypsum plasterboard originating in or imported from Indonesia and Thailand through a Government Gazette Notice.
After initiation of the investigation, all known foreign producers/exporters of gypsum plasterboard in Indonesia and Thailand were sent foreign manufacturers/exporters questionnaires to complete. Importers of gypsum plasterboard were also sent questionnaires to complete on 21 August 2025.
No responses to ITAC questionnaires from importers, producers and exporters of gypsum plasterboard from Indonesia and Thailand were received.
On 16 February 2026, the Commission sent out essential facts letters to all interested parties. The deadline for comments was 23 February 2026.
There were no responses to the “Essential facts” letters from importers, producers and/ or exporters of gypsum plasterboard. Saint-Gobain Products responded to the “Essential facts” letter supporting ITAC’s intention to maintain the anti-dumping duties on gypsum plasterboard.
ITAC made a final determination that the expiry of the anti-dumping duties on gypsum plasterboard originating in or imported from Indonesia and Thailand would likely lead to the recurrence of dumping and material injury.
ITAC made a final determination to recommend to the Trade, Industry and Competition Minister (Minister) that the current anti-dumping duty on gypsum plasterboard originating in or imported from Indonesia and Thailand be maintained as follows: Table 1: Duties to be maintained:
- 6809.11 Boards, sheets, panels, tiles and similar articles of plaster or of compositions based on plaster, faced or reinforced with paper or paperboard only, not ornamented [Thailand 45%]
- 6809.11 Boards, sheets, panels, tiles and similar articles of plaster or of compositions based on plaster, faced or reinforced with paper or paperboard only, not ornamented, (excluding that manufactured by PT, Siam-Indo Gypsum industry) [Indonesia 34.6%]
The Minister approved ITAC’s recommendation; the detailed reasons are set out in its 36-page Report No. 775.
The report is accessible at:
https://itac.org.za/wp-content/uploads/Annexure-A-Report-775.pdf