On September 18, 2026, ITAC published notice of the initiation of the investigation into the alleged dumping of Portland Cement, classifiable under tariff subheading 2523.29, originating in or imported from Vietnam and Mozambique. Comment is due by October 16, 2026.
The application was lodged by Afrimat, Intercement South Africa (NPC) and Dangote Cement South Africa (Sephaku), collectively referred to as the applicant.
The applicant submitted an application to ITAC alleging that Portland Cement originating in or imported from Vietnam and Mozambique is being dumped in the SACU, causing material injury and a threat of material injury to the SACU market. The applicant submitted sufficient evidence and established a prima facie case to enable ITAC to arrive at a reasonable conclusion that an investigation should be initiated based on dumping, material injury, threat of material injury and a causal link between the alleged dumped imports and the material injury and the threat of material injury experienced by the SACU Industry.
The allegation of dumping is based on a comparison between the normal value and the export price.
Normal value for Vietnam was determined based on domestic price data sourced from the official construction material price schedules published by the Department of Construction of Quảng Ninh Province.
The export price was determined based on import statistics from SARS. An adjustment for inland freight cost was taken into account to arrive at the ex-factory export price.
On this basis, SARS found there was prima facie evidence of dumping of the products from Vietnam. The dumping margin for Vietnam was determined to be 37.04%.
Normal value for Mozambique was determined based on the invoice price of a manufacturer of the product in Mozambique.
The export price was determined based on SARS import statistics. An adjustment for inland freight cost was taken into account.
On this basis, ITAC found prima facie evidence of dumping of the products from Mozambique. The dumping margin for Mozambique was determined to be 90.51%.
The information shows that imported products from Vietnam and Mozambique meet the criteria for cumulative assessment as the dumping margins for each country exceed 2% and import volumes from each country exceed negligibility levels. The imported products compete with each other and with SACU-like products.
On this basis, ITAC decided to cumulatively assess the effect and/or impact of the alleged dumped imports on material injury to the SACU industry.
The applicant submitted evidence indicating that material injury was experienced in the form of:
- Decline in market share, sales volumes, output, profit, capacity utilisation and employment
- Increase in inventory volumes
- Negative growth and cash flow
- Price suppression and undercutting since imports of the product entered the SACU market in the period beginning January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2025.
Freely disposable capacity of the exporters, a significant increase in the alleged dumped imports, the state of the economy in Vietnam and Mozambique and prices of imports have a significant depressing and suppressing effect on domestic prices.
Furthermore, the applicant provided sufficient evidence to demonstrate that the material injury and the threat of material injury can be linked to the alleged dumped imports.
On this basis, ITAC found prima facie proof of material injury, a threat of material injury and a causal link.
The period of investigation for the purpose of determining the dumping margin is from January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2025. The period of investigation for determining material injury is from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2025.
Having decided that there is sufficient evidence and a prima facie case to justify the initiation of an investigation, ITAC has begun an investigation in terms of Section 16 of the ITA Act. ITAC will conduct its investigation in accordance with the relevant sections of this Act and the ITAC ADR.