The ministry was asked to investigate fresh claims by the Australian-owned steel maker that Malaysian and Chinese exports of hollow steel sections (HSS) were being dumped in the local market, and that China unfairly subsidises its steel industry, undercutting the local manufacturer. The probe into Chinese steel products is MBIE's third during the past two years at the behest of BlueScope subsidiaries.

Unlike the two earlier reports, MBIE's provisional findings show steel imports have been dumped in the local market, although just those from Malaysia and not from China. The reports, completed in July, show government officials estimate Malaysian steel is being dumped at an average margin of 11.4 percent below the export price. They recommend the provisional introduction of an anti-dumping duty on those products at the same rate.

Malaysian imports account for 4.4 percent of the market, which MBIE said was large enough to cause material damage to the applicant, NZ Steel. . . . . .