South Africa has launched an anti-dumping investigation into gypsum plasterboard originating in or imported from China and Saudi Arabia following allegations that the products are entering the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) market at dumped prices.
The International Trade Administration Commission (ITAC) initiated the investigation on August 7 following an application by Saint-Gobain Construction Products South Africa, supported by Etex South Africa Building System and Namibian Gypsum Industries, reported trade advisory firm, XA Global Trade Advisors (XAGTA).
The investigation covers gypsum plasterboard classified under tariff subheading 6809.11, including boards, sheets, panels, tiles and similar plaster products faced or reinforced with paper or paperboard.
Sufficient prima facie evidence of dumping, material injury and a threat of material injury to the SACU industry had been found to warrant an investigation, XAGTA said.
The dumping investigation covers imports between January 1 and December 31, 2025, while the injury investigation covers the three-year period from January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2025.
Normal values for the products were based on domestic price quotations in China and Saudi Arabia and compared with export prices derived from official South African Revenue Service import statistics.
The investigation follows a separate review of anti-dumping measures on gypsum plasterboard from Thailand and Indonesia. Existing duties of 45% on imports from Thailand and 34.6% on Indonesian product were maintained earlier this year after ITAC found that terminating the measures was likely to lead to a recurrence of dumping and material injury.
Importers, exporters and other interested parties affected by the latest investigation have until September 7 to submit questionnaires and representations.
No provisional anti-dumping duties have been imposed at this stage.
