Fujian Aluminum-Wheel-Hub Exports Face India Probe

 
Recently, it is reported that India's aluminum product association has petitioned India Ministry of Commerce & Industry to conduct an antidumping probe into aluminum-made wheel hubs (with 12in-24in diameters) imported during October 2010-September 2011 from China (including Taiwan region), Thailand and South Korea.

If the Indian Ministry accepts the probe, this case will be the third trade-remedy investigation imposed on China aluminum wheels following EU and Australian probes.

In recent years, under international economic fluctuation, the exports of aluminum wheel hubs from China Fujian province have been relatively unsteady.

In 2009, the exports from Fujian totaled USD 159 million, down 45.61% year-on-year; in 2010, the exports totaled USD 256 million, up 60.78% year-on-year; in 2011, the exports totaled USD 307 million, up 19.93% year-on-year; in first three quarters of 2012, the exports totaled USD 217 million, down 2.16% year-on-year.

Regarding the Fujian exports to India, the value of 2010 is USD 50.63 million, up 148.94% year-on-year; that of 2011 is USD 29.11 million, down 42.51% year-on-year; that of the first three quarters of 2012 is USD 14.99 million, down 37.01% year-on-year; therefore, the Indian market appears to be shrinking.

Fujian's principal exporter to India is Zhangzhou-based China Zenix Auto International Limited accounting for at least 85% of the provincial total export. Now the company is supported by the provincial authority to cope with the Indian probe.