On 17 December 2025, the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (ITAC) published the Sunset Review of the anti-dumping duties on ropes and cables (also known as ropes and cables of steel or wire ropes) of a diameter that is exceeding 32mm classified under tariff subheadings 7312.10.24, 7312.10.30 and 7312.10.90 originating in or imported from Germany and the United Kingdom (UK).
In accordance with the provisions of the Anti-Dumping Regulations and the World Trade Organization (WTO) Anti-Dumping Agreement, 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 the duties would likely lead to the continuation or recurrence of dumping and injury.
On 07 June 2024, ITAC notified interested parties through a Government Gazette notice that unless a substantiated request is made indicating that the expiry of the anti-dumping duties against imports of ropes and cables of a diameter exceeding 32 mm originating in or imported from Germany and the UK would likely lead to the continuation or recurrence of dumping and injury, the anti-dumping duties on ropes and cables of a diameter exceeding 32 mm originating in or imported from Germany and the UK would expire.
The application was lodged by Haggie Steel Wire Ropes Proprietary Limited (Haggie), the only producer of the subject product in the Southern African Customs Union (SACU); thus, the application can be regarded as “made by or on behalf” of the SACU Industry.
Haggie alleges that the expiry of the anti-dumping duties would likely lead to the recurrence of dumping and the continuation or recurrence of material injury. Haggie submitted sufficient evidence and established a prima facie case to enable ITAC to reach a reasonable conclusion that a sunset review investigation of the anti-dumping duties on ropes and cables originating in or imported from Germany and the UK should be initiated.
The allegation of the likelihood of dumping recurrence is based on comparing normal values with export prices should the anti-dumping duties expire.
In calculating the normal values for Germany, the applicant relied on third-country sales from Germany to India, which meets the requirement for choosing a suitable third-country market.
During the investigation period for dumping (01 May 2024 to 30 April 2025), export data from TradeMap were used to determine the normal value for steel wire ropes exported from Germany to India.
An adjustment for transport cost between the factory and the port was made to arrive at the ex-factory normal value.
In calculating the export price, Haggie stated that the official South African Revenue Service (SARS) import statistics are unreliable due to significant tariff subheading mismatches between the SACU tariff classification system and the scope of the anti-dumping duties. In calculating export prices for Germany, ITAC decided to use export statistics from TradeMap for the applicable EU tariff subheading, which more accurately reflect the subject product scope. TradeMap provides trade data based on official customs statistics from exporting countries.
During the investigation period for dumping (from 01 May 2024 to 30 April 2025), Germany exported steel wire ropes to South Africa.
An adjustment for transport cost between the factory and the port was made to arrive at the ex-factory export price.
An average dumping margin for Germany was calculated to be 36.69%.
On this basis, ITAC found that there was prima facie proof of the likelihood of recurrence of dumping.
In calculating the normal values for the UK, Haggie relied on third-country sales from the UK to India, which meets the requirement for choosing a suitable third-country market.
During the investigation period for dumping (01 May 2024 to 30 April 2025), export data from TradeMap were used to determine the normal value for steel wire ropes exported from the UK to India.
An adjustment for transport cost between the factory and the port was made to arrive at the ex-factory normal value.
In calculating the export price, Haggie stated that the official SARS import statistics are unreliable due to significant tariff subheading mismatches between the SACU tariff classification system and the scope of the anti-dumping duties. In calculating export prices for the UK, ITAC decided to use export statistics from TradeMap for the applicable European Union (EU) tariff subheading, which more accurately reflect the subject product scope. TradeMap provides trade data based on official customs statistics from exporting countries.
During the investigation period for dumping from (01 May 2024 to 30 April 2025), the UK exported steel wire ropes to South Africa.
An adjustment for transport cost between the factory and the port was made to arrive at the ex-factory export price.
An average dumping margin for the UK was calculated to be 29.43%.
On this basis, ITAC found that there was prima facie proof of the likelihood of recurrence of dumping.
Haggie alleged and submitted sufficient evidence to show that the expiry of the anti-dumping duties on the subject products originating in or imported from Germany and the UK would likely lead to the recurrence of material injury to the SACU industry.
On this basis, ITAC found that there was prima facie proof of the likelihood of the recurrence of material injury if the duties expire.
The investigation period for determining the likelihood of the recurrence of dumping is 1 May 2024 - 30 April 2025. The investigation period for determining the likelihood of the recurrence of material injury is from 01 May 2022 to 30 April 2025. Estimates for 01 May 2025 to 30 April 2026 are provided in the event that the anti-dumping duties expire.