Full Text
REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
The Gazette of India
CG-DL-E-01072025-264267
EXTRAORDINARY
PART I-Section 1
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
NEW DELHI, MONDAY, JUNE 30, 2025/ASHADHA 9, 1947
4260 GI/2025
(1)
MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
(Department of Commerce)
(DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF TRADE REMEDIES)
INITIATION NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 30th June, 2025
Case No. AD (OI) - 17/2025
Subject: Initiation of anti-dumping investigation into imports of Virgin Multi-layer Paperboard
from Indonesia.
F. No. 06/20/2025-DGTR.— The Indian Paper Manufacturer Association (hereinafter also
referred to as the "applicant" or "IPMA") has filed an application on behalf of the domestic industry before
the Designated Authority (hereinafter referred to as the “Authority”), in accordance with the Custom Tariff
Act 1975, as amended, (hereinafter referred to as the “Act”) and Custom Tariff (Identification, Assessment
and Collection of Anti-dumping Duty on Dumped Articles and for Determination of Injury) Rules, 1995 as
amended, (hereinafter also referred to as the “AD Rules"), for the initiation of an anti-dumping
investigation concerning imports of Virgin Multi-layer Paperboard (hereinafter referred to as "subject
goods" or "product under consideration”) originating in or exported from Indonesia (hereinafter referred to
as "subject country").
The applicant has alleged that material injury is being caused to the domestic industry due to dumped
imports of the product under consideration originating in or exported from the subject country and has
requested for imposition of anti-dumping duty on the imports of the product under consideration from the
subject country.
A. PRODUCT UNDER CONSIDERATION
1. The product under consideration is multi-layer board made of white / virgin wood pulp, whether
coated or uncoated, and is also known as Virgin Multi-Layer Paperboard. The product under
consideration is made up of multiple layers of paper bonded together. The product under
consideration is made of pulp from fibre of trees. The product under consideration comes in various
grades. The product under consideration includes Folding Box Board (FBB), Solid Bleached Sulfate
Board (SBS), Cup Stock Paper or Board and Liquid Packaging Board, all in the range of 140 to 450
GSM. These are classified into two main categories, virgin grade which is manufactured from fibre
of the trees and recycled grade manufactured from fibres obtained from recovered paper and
paperboard. Coated/uncoated cigarette boards and paperboards made out of recycled/brown pulp or
fibre are excluded from the scope of the product under consideration.
2. The product under consideration is used in packaging of pharmaceuticals, FMCG products, food &
beverages, electronics, high end cosmetics, and liquor, and in book covers, publishing, etc.
3. Solid Bleached Sulfate Board (SBS) paperboard is a high-quality paperboard made from bleached
virgin pulp, which is coated with clay and thereafter treated to ensure resistance to moisture. Folding
Box Board (FBB) is made up of an inner layer of mechanical pulp in between outer layers of
chemical pulp. Folding Box Board includes a bleached top layer for providing an effective printing
surface, for use as brochures, flyers and display boxes. Cup stock grade is used to manufacture
disposable cups and cup shaped containers for food items. The usage of the subject goods often
requires compliance to relevant safety regulations.
4. The product under consideration is classified under Chapter 48 of the Customs Tariff Act, 1975,
under the heading 4805 and 4810, under the ITC HS Codes 4805 91 00, 4805 92 00, 4805 93 00,
4810 92 00 and 4810 99 00. The applicant has claimed that the subject goods are being imported
under multiple HS Codes including 4802 20 90, 4802 57 90, 4804 19 00, 4804 39 00, 4804 42 00,
4804 52 00, 4804 59 00, 4805 19 00, 4810 13 20, 4810 13 30, 4810 13 90, 4810 14 30, 4810 14 90,
4810 19 10, 4810 19 90, 4810 22 00, 4810 29 00, 4810 31 00, 4810 32 00, 4810 39 90, 4811 51 10,
4811 51 90, 4811 59 10, 4811 59 90, 4811 90 99, 4819 10 10, 4819 20 90. The Customs
classification is only indicative and is not binding on the scope of the present investigation.
5. The domestic industry has proposed the following PCN.
+----+---------------------------------+------+
| SN | Product Type | Code |
+----+---------------------------------+------+
| 1. | Solid Bleached Sulfate Board | SBS |
| 2. | Two-side coated boards / Artboard | ATB |
| 3. | Folding Box Board | FBB |
| 4. | Cup Stock | CUS |
| 5. | Liquid Packaging Board | LPB |
| 6. | Others | OTH |
+----+---------------------------------+------+
6. The parties to the present investigation may provide their comments on the PUC and proposed PCNs,
if any, within 15 days from the date of initiation of this investigation.
B. LIKE ARTICLE
7. The subject goods exported from the subject country are identical to the goods produced by the
domestic industry. The subject goods produced by the domestic industry have comparable
characteristics to the subject goods imported from the subject country in terms of technical
specifications, physical & chemical characteristics, manufacturing process & technology, functions
& uses, pricing, distribution & marketing and tariff classification. The two are technically and
commercially substitutable. Therefore, for the purpose of initiation of the present investigation, the
subject goods produced by the applicant domestic producers are being treated as ‘like article' to the
subject goods originating in or exported from the subject country.
C. DOMESTIC INDUSTRY AND STANDING
8. The application has been filed by the Indian Paper Manufacturing Association on behalf of the
domestic industry. The following domestic producers of the subject goods in India have provided
information as part of the application requesting initiation of the present investigation.
a. Emami Papers Mills Limited
b. ITC Limited
с. JK Paper Limited
9. Subsequently, the following domestic produces submitted complete injury and costing information
for the present investigation. The said domestic producers requested for being considered as part of
the domestic industry.
a. Aditya Birla Real Estate Limited
b. Tamil Nadu Newsprint and Papers Limited
10. Apart from the applicant domestic producers, West Coast Paper Mills Limited is another domestic
producer which has filed a letter supporting the application.
11. Based on the information provided by the domestic producers, the following have been considered to
form the domestic industry (hereinafter referred to as “applicant domestic producers").
a. Emami Papers Mills Limited
b. ITC Limited
с. JK Paper Limited
d. Aditya Birla Real Estate Limited
e. Tamil Nadu Newsprint and Papers Limited
12. It has been submitted that the applicant domestic producers are not related to exporters of subject
goods in subject country or importers of product under consideration in India. Further, it is submitted
that they have not imported the product under consideration from the subject country during the
period of investigation.
13. In view of the above and after examination of the application filed by the applicant, the Authority
prima facie notes that the applicant domestic producers account for major proportion of total Indian
production. The applicant domestic producers constitute ‘domestic industry' within the meaning of
Rule 2(b) and the application satisfies the criteria of standing in terms of Rule 5(3) of the Anti-
Dumping Rules.
D. SUBJECT COUNTRY
14. The application has been filed in respect of dumped imports of the product under consideration from
the Republic of Indonesia (“Indonesia").
E. PERIOD OF INVESTIGATION
15. The applicant has proposed 1st April 2024 to 31st December 2024 as the period of investigation.
However, the Authority has considered the period of investigation (POI) for the present investigation
from 1st April 2024 to 31st March 2025 (a period of 12 months). The injury investigation period shall
cover the period 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24 and the period of investigation.
F. BASIS OF ALLEGED DUMPING
Normal value
16. The applicant has claimed that it did not have access to information regarding the domestic selling
price prevailing in Indonesia. Since there is no dedicated tariff classification for the product, the
applicant could not rely upon price of imports into the subject country or exports from the subject
country. Further, information with regard to cost of production in the subject country was not
available to the domestic industry.
17. For the purpose of initiation, the Authority has considered normal value for Indonesia, estimated based
on cost of production of the applicant domestic producers, duly adjusted for selling, general and
administrative expenses along with a reasonable profit margin. The normal value methodology
claimed by the applicant has been considered for the purpose of initiation.
Export Price
18. The export price of the subject goods from the subject country has been determined by considering
transaction wise import data, as reflected in the DG Systems Data. Price adjustments have been made
on account of ocean freight, marine insurance, commission, bank charges, port and handling
expenses, and inland freight.
Dumping margin
19. The normal value and the export price have been compared at the ex-factory level, which prima facie
establishes that the dumping margin is above the de-minimis level with respect to the subject goods
imported from Indonesia. Thus, there is sufficient prima facie evidence that the product under
consideration from Indonesia is being dumped in the domestic market of India by the exporters from
the subject country.
G. INJURY AND CAUSAL LINK
20. Information furnished by the applicant, with regard to various parameters, has been considered for
assessment of injury to the domestic industry. The applicant has provided prima facie information
with respect to the injury suffered by the domestic industry because of dumped imports. There has
been a significant increase in imports from the subject country in absolute and relative terms. The
applicant has claimed that the imports have suppressed and depressed the prices of the domestic
industry. The subject imports have entered at prices below the cost of sales and selling price of the
domestic industry. This has adversely impacted the performance of the domestic industry in respect
of profitability. The profits and cash profits of the domestic industry have declined significantly over
the injury period and it has earned a low return on capital employed. The market share of the subject
imports has increased and that of the domestic industry has declined... There is sufficient prima facie
evidence of material injury being caused to the domestic industry by the dumped imports from the
subject country, justifying initiation of an anti-dumping investigation.
H. INITIATION OF ANTI-DUMPING INVESTIGATION
21. On the basis of the duly substantiated application filed by the applicant and on being satisfied based
on the prima facie evidence submitted therein, concerning the dumping of the subject goods
originating in or exported from the subject country, the consequential injury to the domestic industry
as a result of the alleged dumping of the subject goods and the causal link between such injury and
the dumped imports, and in accordance with Section 9A of the Act read with Rule 5 of the Anti-
Dumping Rules, the Authority, hereby, initiates an anti-dumping investigation to determine the
existence, degree and effect of the dumping with respect to the product under consideration
originating in or exported from the subject country and to recommend the appropriate amount of
anti-dumping duty, which if levied, would be adequate to remove the injury to the domestic industry.
I. PROCEDURE
22. Principles as given in Rule 6 of the Rules shall be followed for the present investigation.
J. SUBMISSION OF INFORMATION
23. All communication should be sent to the Designated Authority via email at email addresses jd12-
dgtr@gov.in and ad12-dgtr@gov.in with a copy to dir15-dgtr@gov.in and consultant-dgtr@nic.in. It
must be ensured that the narrative part of the submission is in searchable PDF/MS-Word format and
data files are in MS-Excel format.
24. The known producers/exporters in the subject country, the Government of the subject country
through its embassies in India, and the importers and users in India who are known to be associated
with the subject goods are being informed separately to enable them to file all relevant information
within the time limits mentioned in this initiation notification. All such information must be filed in
the form and manner as prescribed by this initiation notification, the Rules, and the applicable trade
notices issued by the Authority.
25. Any other interested party may also make a submission relevant to the present investigation in the
form and manner as prescribed by this initiation notification, the Rules, and the applicable trade
notices issued by the Authority within the time limits mentioned in this initiation notification.
26. Any party making any confidential submission before the Authority is required to make a non-
confidential version of the same available to the other interested parties.
27. Interested parties are further advised to keep a regular watch on the official website of the Authority
http://www.dgtr.gov.in/ for any updated information with respect to this investigation.
K. TIME LIMIT
28. Any information relating to the present investigation should be sent to the Designated Authority via
email at email address jd12-dgtr@gov.in and ad12-dgtr@gov.in with a copy to dir15-dgtr@gov.in
and consultant-dgtr@nic.in within thirty days (30 days) from the date on which the non-confidential
version of the documents filed by the domestic industry would be circulated by the Designated
Authority or transmitted to the appropriate diplomatic representative of the exporting country as per
Rule 6(4) of the Rules. If no information is received within the stipulated time limit or the
information received is incomplete, the Authority may record its findings based on the facts available
on record and in accordance with the Rules.
29. All the interested parties are hereby advised to intimate their interest (including the nature of interest)
in the present investigation and file their questionnaire response/submissions within the above time
limit.
30. Where an interested party seeks additional time for filing of submissions, it must demonstrate
sufficient cause for such extension in terms of Rule 6(4) of the AD Rules and such request must
come within the time stipulated in this notification.
L. SUBMISSION OF INFORMATION ON CONFIDENTIAL BASIS
31. Where any party to the present investigation makes confidential submissions or provides information
on a confidential basis before the Authority, such party is required to simultaneously submit a non-
confidential version of such information in terms of Rule 7(2) of the Rules and in accordance with
the relevant trade notices issued by the Authority in this regard.
32. Such submissions must be clearly marked as “confidential” or “non-confidential” at the top of each
page. Any submission that has been made to the Authority without such markings shall be treated as
"non-confidential” information by the Authority, and the Authority shall be at liberty to allow other
interested parties to inspect such submissions.
33. The confidential version shall contain all information which is, by nature, confidential, and/or other
information, which the supplier of such information claims as confidential. For the information
which is claimed to be confidential by nature, or the information on which confidentiality is claimed
because of other reasons, the supplier of the information is required to show a good cause along with
the supplied information as to why such information cannot be disclosed.
34. The non-confidential version of the information filed by the interested parties should be a replica of
the confidential version with the confidential information preferably indexed or blanked out, where
indexation is not possible, and such information must be appropriately and adequately summarized
depending upon the information on which confidentiality is claimed.
35. The non-confidential summary must be in sufficient detail to permit a reasonable understanding of
the substance of the information furnished on a confidential basis However, in exceptional
circumstances, the party submitting the confidential information may indicate that such information
is not susceptible to summary, and a statement of reasons containing a sufficient and adequate
explanation in terms of Rule 7 of the Anti-Dumping Rules, and appropriate trade notices issued by
the Authority, as to why such summarization is not possible, must be provided to the satisfaction of
the Authority.
36. The interested parties can offer their comments on the issues of confidentiality claimed in the
submissions, within seven days (7 days) from the date of circulation of the non-confidential version
of the documents in terms of relevant paragraph of this initiation notification.
37. Any submission made without a meaningful non-confidential version thereof or a sufficient and
adequate cause statement in terms of Rule 7 of the Rules, and appropriate trade notices issued by the
Authority, on the confidentiality claim shall not be taken on record by the Authority.
38. The Authority may accept or reject the request for confidentiality on examination of the nature of the
information submitted. If the Authority is not satisfied that the request for confidentiality is
warranted or if the supplier of the information is either unwilling to make the information public or
to authorize its disclosure in generalized or summary form, it may disregard such information.
39. The Authority on being satisfied and accepting the need for confidentiality of the information
provided, shall not disclose it to any party without specific authorization of the party providing such
information.
M. INSPECTION OF PUBLIC FILE
40. A list of registered interested parties will be uploaded on the DGTR's website along with the request
therein to all of them to email the non-confidential version of their submissions/response/information
to all other interested parties. Failure to circulate non-confidential version of
submissions/response/information might lead to consideration of an interested party as non-
cooperative.
N. NON-COOPERATION
41. In case where an interested party refuses access to, or otherwise does not provide necessary
information within a reasonable period or within the time stipulated by the Authority in this initiation
notification, or significantly impedes the investigation, the Authority may declare such interested
party as non-cooperative and record its findings on the basis of the facts available and make such
recommendations to the Central Government as deemed fit.
SIDDHARTH MAHAJAN, Designated Authority
Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064
and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.