Finland is part of an antidumping investigation being launched by the Ministry for Economic Development and Trade of the Russian Federation. In this context, Rautaruukki has submitted its response to the Russian authorities regarding exports of color coated products to Russia between January 1st and December 31st 2007.

The Russian companies requesting the ministry to investigate are demanding an import duty of 21.3% for five years on color coated products imported from Finland. The companies concerned base their demand on claims that foreign trade in color coated products in 2007 has affected profitability of the country’s own steel production.

Based on export prices complied with by Ruukki, there are no grounds for the import duty demanded. Mr Olavi Huhtala president of Ruukki Metals said that “All our operations comply with the law and international agreements and we seek to resolve this matter as quickly as possible. We can show the transactions and our cost-oriented export prices for the period under investigation. These prices are higher than those appearing in Russian Customs statistics.”

Rautaruukki manufactures color coated products in Hämeenlinna and Kankaanpää in Finland. Colour coated products are used mostly in construction in façades and roofs for example.