Product description – PVC flex films, also known as PVC flex banner and PVC flex sheets for advertising signage, billboards, PVC films and tarpaulins, etc., excluding PVC films, PVC rigid films, cotton / canvas tarpaulins, self-adhesive vinyl, one-way vision film, coloured vinyl, mesh banner / fabric.

HS Codes –3920 and 3921

Uses – PVC flex film is used by advertising industry for use as hoardings, billboards, banners, sign boards, etc.

Countries involved – China PR.

Applicant – All India Laminated Fabric Manufacturers Association (AILFMA) on behalf of its members, with Pioneer Polyleathers Limited, Qrex Flex Pvt Limited and SRF Limited constituting domestic industry.

Period of investigation – 1^st October 2019 to 30^th September 2020

Injury period –2017-2018, 2018-2019, 2019- 2020 and the period of investigation.

Past investigations involving the product – Provisional anti-dumping duties were first levied vide Notification No. 79/2010-Customs dated 30^th July 2010 and final duties were levied vide Notification No. 82/2011-Customs, dated 25^th August 2011. Pursuant to sunset review investigation, anti-dumping duty was extended vide Notification No. 42/2016-Customs (ADD), dated 8^th August 2016.  The current anti-dumping duty, if not extended, will expire on 7^th August 2021.

Facts of the present case – Due to the existence of duties in force, the volume of subject imports declined in absolute as well as relative terms and the domestic industry did not suffer material injury due to imports. However, reduction in imports post imposition of duty, continued dumping, history of dumping by the exporters, dumping in other markets, significant excess capacities, restriction of use of plastic in China, high degree of reliance on exports, significant inventories, price attractiveness of Indian market, likely suppression / depression of prices in the absence of duties and fragile state of the domestic industry demonstrate that in the event of expiry of duties, dumping of subject goods is likely to intensify and the domestic industry is likely to suffer injury.