Coated Paper Companies Waiting on the Asia Decision on Dumping

The preliminary determination from the Department of Commerce should be out during this month, November 2009. Recall, we reported on New Page and other coated paper producers requesting that the US Government review the possibility that China and Indonesia governments were subsidizing paper mills and allowed for ‘dumping’ paper into the USA at below cash cost to produce. This includes coated paper over 80GE brightness.
The total imports of coated papers had increased from 131,687 tons in the first 6 months of 2008, 185,422 in the first six months of 2009 – an increase of 40%. During this same period USA domestic producers estimated their shipments were down 38%.
China and Indonesia combined are estimated to have a 30% market share here in the USA.