In brief

The Brazilian Secretariat of Foreign Trade (SECEX) opened on 30 April 2024 a new antidumping investigation against Brazilian imports of titanium dioxide pigments, in the rutile form, from China, commonly classified under the NCM code 3206.11.00.

Titanium dioxide pigments in rutile form are widely used by the industry to provide whiteness, brightness, and opacity to certain products, such as papers, plastics, paints, and coatings.

The full text of the SECEX Circular (in Portuguese) that opened the investigation can be accessed in this link.

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Importance of stakeholder participation

Active participation of importers, exporters, and any other interested parties in the investigation could be decisive in securing a more favorable outcome. Interested parties may request to be admitted to the process until 20 May 2024¹, provided they demonstrate the extent to which they could be affected by the imposition of the antidumping duty.

• Deadline for replying to the Importer’s Questionnaire: 30 days as of acknowledgment of receipt (presumed 3 days after the date of electronic transmission by the authority).
• Deadline for replying to the Exporter’s Questionnaire: 30 days as of acknowledgment of receipt (presumed 7 days after the date of electronic transmission by the authority).

In view of the provisions of the SECEX Ordinance No. 282/2023, a proceeding for the assessment of public interest would generally only occur after the trade defense investigation is closed (kindly find details on our Legal Alert on the subject).

More details

The new investigation was initiated upon the request of Tronox Pigmentos do Brasil S.A., responsible for the totality of the Brazilian production of the pigments under investigation.

• Investigated product: Titanium dioxide pigments, or preparations based on titanium dioxide, in the rutile form, also called titanium dioxide pigment or TiO2, containing a minimum of 80% by weight of titanium dioxide, calculated on a dry basis, covering all types of particle sizes, the product being either (i) simply calcined, or (ii) calcined and ground, or (iii) calcined, ground and micronized.

Excluded from the scope of the investigation: Titanium dioxide of the anatase type (NCM 2823.00.10).

• Uses: Used as a white pigment to provide whiteness, brightness, and opacity.
  • “Large-scale” applications: Coatings (including paints) for all forms of architectural and industrial applications; plastic, paper, and paper laminates (used to make furniture, flooring, and other consumer goods).
  • Special applications: Pharmaceuticals, skin care products; food; titanium-based chemical products; ultra-fine titanium dioxide pigment, used in a very diverse range of products, such as air pollution control equipment, energy storage, photovoltaics, photocatalysis, electronics, and water treatment.
• Dumping margin: USD 1.561,88/t / 66,3%.