Vietnam initiates anti-dumping investigation into Thai sugar

The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) has initiated anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigations into a number of different types of sugar imported from Thailand.

During the eight-month period, 950,000 tonnes of sugar have been imported into Vietnam, of which 850,000 tonnes are from Thailand.

The move will see sugar, with the codes HS 1701.13.00, 1701.14.00, and 1701.99.10, that originates from Thailand subject to an investigation.

In line with commitments to applying tariff quotas under the World Trade Organization (WTO), Vietnam, an ASEAN member state, moved to eliminate tariffs on sugar imported from ASEAN as of January 1.

During the past eight months of the year, the quantity of sugar imports into Vietnam  witnessed a dramatic increase, reaching approximately 950,000 tonnes and representing a six-fold increase in comparison to the same period last year.

Most notably, the majority of sugar imports during the reviewed period came from Thailand, accounting for roughly 860,000 tonnes compared to the figure of 145,000 tonnes from last year’s corresponding period and 300,000 tonnes from the entirety of 2019. This sharp increase has caused great damage to the local sugar industry.

Statistics indicate that domestic sugar output in the 2019-2020 crop is estimated to be less than 800,000 tonnes, representing a decline of approximately 400,000 tonnes compared to the 2018-2019 crop.

Ahead of the launch of the investigation, the domestic production sector has also provided the authorities with evidence that sugar products imported from Thailand are being dumped onto the Vietnamese market.

Furthermore, the Thai Government has also maintained a number of subsidy policies aimed at supporting the cultivation activities of farmers and the sugar industry.

By launching probes into sugar imported from Thailand, the MoIT wants to ensure fair competition and protect the legitimate rights and interests of domestic production.