Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/576 of 10 April 2019 imposing a provisional anti-dumping duty on imports of mixtures of urea and ammonium nitrate originating in Russia, Trinidad and Tobago and the United States of America

11.4.2019	EN	Official Journal of the European Union	L 100/7

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Regulation (EU) 2016/1036 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 June 2016 on protection against dumped imports from countries not members of the European Union ¹ and in particular Article 7 thereof,

After consulting the Member States,

Whereas:

1. PROCEDURE

1.1.   Initiation

• (1) On 13 August 2018, the European Commission initiated an anti-dumping investigation with regard to imports into the Union of mixtures of urea and ammonium nitrate originating in Russia, Trinidad and Tobago and the United States of America ‘the countries concerned’) on the basis of Article 5 of Regulation (EU) 2016/1036 of the European Parliament and of the Council (‘the basic Regulation’). The Notice of Initiation (‘NoI’) was published in the Official Journal of the European Union ².

• (2) The Commission initiated the investigation following a complaint lodged on 29 June 2018 by Fertilizers Europe (‘the complainant’) on behalf of producers representing more than 50 % of the total Union production of mixtures of urea and ammonium nitrate (‘UAN’). The complaint contained evidence of dumping and of resulting material injury that was sufficient to justify the initiation of the investigation.

1.2.   Registration

• (3) The Commission made imports of the product concerned subject to registration under Article 14(5a) of the basic Regulation by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/455 of 20 March 2019 ³ (‘the registration Regulation’).

1.3.   Interested parties

• (4) In the Notice of Initiation, the Commission invited interested parties to contact it in order to participate in the investigation. In addition, the Commission specifically informed the complainant, known Union producers, the known exporting producers and the authorities of the Russian Federation (‘Russia’), Trinidad and Tobago (‘TT’), and the United States of America (‘US’), known importers and associations representing the interests of users and other associations known to be concerned about the initiation of the investigation and invited them to participate.

• (5) Interested parties had an opportunity to comment on the initiation of the investigation and to request a hearing with the Commission and/or the Hearing Officer in trade proceedings.

• (6) The co-operating exporting producers in Russia and US claimed that the complainants had no standing and that there was no sufficient evidence of dumping and injury to initiate the investigation.

• (7) The Commission rejected both claims. The Commission cross-checked and confirmed the conclusions contained in the Note to the file on standing available for inspection by interested parties that the complaint was lodged on behalf of producers representing more than 50 % of the total Union production of UAN. Moreover, the Commission carried out an examination of the complaint in accordance with Article 5 of the basic Regulation, coming to the conclusion that the requirements for initiation of an investigation were met, namely that the adequacy and accuracy of the evidence presented by the complainant was sufficient. According to Article 5(2) of the basic Regulation, a complaint shall contain such information as is reasonably available to the complainant on the factors indicated therein. On the basis of the evidence provided, as confirmed by the Commission's own assessment, that requirement was satisfied.

1.4.   Sampling

• (8) In its Notice of Initiation, the Commission stated that it might sample the interested parties in accordance with Article 17 of the basic Regulation.

1.4.1.   Sampling of the Union producers

• (9) In the Notice of Initiation, the Commission stated that it had decided to limit to a reasonable number the Union producers that would be investigated by applying sampling and that it had provisionally selected a sample of Union producers. The Commission selected the provisional sample on the basis of the reported production and Union sales volume, by the Union producers, in the context of the pre-initiation standing assessment analysis. The provisional sample thus established consisted of three Union producers that accounted for around 70 % of Union production and sales according to the information available. Details of this provisional sample were made available in the file for inspection by interested parties and the Commission invited interested parties to comment.

• (10) Shortly after initiation, one of the provisionally sampled producers, Yara Sluiskil B.V., informed the Commission that it did not want to cooperate. Moreover, two Union producers sent replies in response to the pre-initiation standing assessment after the publication of the Notice of Initiation. The Commission took into account those Union producers' data on production and sales in order to establish the final sample.

• (11) Several interested parties submitted further comments with regard to the provisional sample. The Commission considered the comments and explained in the note added to the open file on 5 September 2018 why those comments did not have an impact on the final sample selection.

• (12) The Commission's approach to apply sampling, pursuant to Article 17 of the basic anti-dumping Regulation, on the basis of volume of production and sales of the like product in the Union during the investigation period, was consequently maintained.

• (13) Given that Yara Sluiskil B.V. did not wish to cooperate, the Commission decided to replace it with OCI Nitrogen. The final sample of Union producers, comprising AB Achema, Grupa Azoty Zaklady Azotowe Pulawy S.A. and OCI Nitrogen B.V., accounted for more than 50 % of the total Union production and sales volumes of the like product. The sample is representative of the Union industry.

1.4.2.   Sampling of importers

• (14) To decide whether sampling was necessary and, if so, to select a sample, the Commission asked unrelated importers to provide the information specified in the Notice of Initiation.

• (15) Several unrelated importers made themselves known as interested parties, although only three provided the requested information and agreed to be included in the sample. In view of the low number of replies received, the Commission decided that sampling was not necessary. All three importers were invited to complete a questionnaire.

1.4.3.   Sampling of exporting producers in Russia, TT and US

• (16) To decide whether sampling was necessary and, if so, to select a sample, the Commission asked all known exporting producers in Russia, TT and US to provide the information specified in the Notice of Initiation. In addition, the Commission asked the Mission of the Russian Federation to the European Union, the Mission of Trinidad and Tobago to the European Union, and the Mission of the United States of America to the European Union to identify and/or contact other exporting producers, if any, that could be interested in participating in the investigation.

• (17) Two exporting producers in Russia, one exporting producer in TT, and one exporting producer in US provided the requested information and agreed to be included in the sample.

• (18) In view of the low number of responses from exporting producers, the Commission decided that sampling was not necessary.

• (19) All known exporting producers concerned, and the authorities of the countries concerned, were informed on the selection of the companies to be investigated by note of 21 August 2018. No comments were received.

1.5.   Replies to the questionnaire

• (20) The Commission sent questionnaires to the three sampled Union producers, the complainant, the three unrelated importers which had made themselves known, the four exporting producers in the countries concerned and all users' associations and economic operators which made themselves known and requested a questionnaire.

• (21) In the complaint, the complainant provided sufficient evidence of raw material distortions in Russia regarding the product concerned. Therefore, as announced in the Notice of Initiation, the investigation covers these raw material distortions to determine whether to apply the provisions of Article 7(2a) and 7(2b) of the basic Regulation with regard to Russia. For this reason, the Commission sent an additional questionnaire to the Government of Russia (‘GOR’).

• (22) Questionnaire replies were received from the three sampled Union producers, Fertilizers Europe, three unrelated importers, the four exporting producers in the countries concerned and seventeen different economic operators, including some representing the interests of users.

• (23) A questionnaire reply was also received from the GOR. However, the GOR's reply was significantly incomplete and lacked the basic information needed by the Commission to examine the allegations of raw material distortions in Russia and to assess whether a duty lower than the margin of dumping would be sufficient to remove injury. The GOR did not reply to the Commission's request with regard to an on-spot verification of the data provided in the questionnaire reply.

• (24) The Commission informed the GOR by two notes of 22 October and 19 December 2018 of the deficiencies of the response to the questionnaire and the lack of reply to the Commission's request to verify the provided data. The Commission indicated that by not providing the necessary information, it would make its findings with regard to the existence of raw material distortions in Russia on the basis of the facts available. The GOR failed to provide the necessary information in response to those notes.

1.6.   Verification visits

• (25) The Commission sought and verified all the information deemed necessary for a provisional determination of dumping, raw material distortions with regard to the product concerned in Russia, resulting injury and Union interest. Verification visits pursuant to Article 16 of the basic Regulation were carried out at the premises of the following companies:

• (a) Union producers and their associations

• — AB Achema, Jonava, Lithuania

• — Grupa Azoty Zaklady Azotowe Pulawy S. A., Pulawy, Poland

• — OCI Nitrogen BV, Geleen, Netherlands

• — Fertilizers Europe, Brussels, Belgium

• (b) Unrelated importers

• — UnionInvivo, Paris, France

• — Interore, Wavre, Belgium

• (c) Exporting producers:

Exporting producers in Russia:

Acron Group:

• — PJSC Acron (‘Acron’), Veliky Novgorod, Russia (producer)

• — Agronova Belgorod (‘Agronova’), Moscow, Russia (domestic trader)

EuroChem Group:

• — Novomoskovsky Azot, JSC, Novomoskovsk, Russia (producer)

• — Nevinnomyssky Azot, JSC, Nevinnomyssk, Russia (producer)

• — EuroChem Trading Russia, Moscow, Russia (domestic trader)

Exporting producer in TT:

• — Methanol Holdings (Trinidad) Limited (‘MTHL’), Point Lisas, TT

Exporting producer in US:

• — CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (‘CFI’), Deerfield, Illinois, US

• (d) Related importers:

• — Acron France SAS (‘Acron SAS’), Paris, France (importer related to Acron Group)

• — EuroChem Agro GmbH, Mannheim, Germany (importer related to EuroChem Group)

• — EuroChem Agro France SAS, Paris, France (importer related to EuroChem Group)

• — Helm AG (‘HAG’), Hamburg, Germany (importer related to MHTL)

• — Helm Engrais France (‘HEF’), Paris, France (importer related to MHTL)

• (e) Related exporters:

• — Acron Switzerland AG (‘Acron AG’), Baar, Switzerland (exporter related to Acron Group)

• — EuroChem Trading GmbH, Zug, Switzerland (exporter related to EuroChem Group).

1.7.   Investigation period and period considered

• (26) The investigation of dumping and injury covered the period from 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2018 (‘the investigation period’ or ‘IP’). The examination of trends relevant for the assessment of injury covered the period from 1 January 2015 to the end of the investigation period (‘the period considered’).

2. PRODUCT CONCERNED AND LIKE PRODUCT

2.1.   Product concerned

• (27) The product concerned is mixtures of urea and ammonium nitrate in aqueous or ammoniacal solution originating in Russia, TT, and the US, currently falling under CN code 3102 80 00 (‘the product concerned’ or ‘UAN’).

• (28) UAN is a liquid nitrogen fertilizer.

• (29) The nitrogen content is the most significant feature of the product concerned. It can vary between 28 % and 32 % of UAN. Such variation is usually obtained by adding more or less water to the solution. Most of the imported solutions tend to have a nitrogen content of 32 %. UAN with a nitrogen content of 32 % is more concentrated than UAN with 30 % or lower, and therefore cheaper to ship. However, whatever their nitrogen content, all solutions of urea and ammonium nitrate are considered to have the same basic physical and chemical characteristics and therefore constitute a single product

2.2.   Like product

• (30) UAN is a pure commodity product, and its quality and basic physical characteristics are identical whatever the country of origin. Union producers offer UAN with a nitrogen content ranging from 28 to 32 %.

• (31) The investigation showed that the following products have the same basic physical and chemical characteristics as well as the same basic uses:

• — the product concerned;

• — the product produced and sold on the domestic market of the countries concerned; and

• — the product produced and sold in the Union by the Union industry.

• (32) The Commission decided at this stage that those products are therefore like products within the meaning of Article 1(4) of the basic Regulation.

2.3.   Claims regarding product scope

• (33) One Union producer highlighted that adding other substances (‘additives’, notably ammonium sulphate but potentially also other substances) to UAN still entailed the resulting mixture to be UAN and fall under CN code 3102 80 00. The investigation showed that it is a common practice to add additives in small quantities and that the market still considers the resulting product to be UAN.

• (34) Therefore, the Commission decided at this stage to clarify that the product scope of the investigation includes mixtures of urea and ammonium nitrate in aqueous or ammoniacal solution that may have additives unless the additives are of the kind and of the quantity to make the mixture be classified under a different CN code.

3. DUMPING

3.1.   Russia

3.1.1.   Exporting producers

• (35) According to the findings of the investigation, there were three groups of companies in Russia that produced UAN in the IP: Acron Group, Eurochem Group and Kuibyshev Azot. Of those, the two first groups exported UAN to the Union during the IP. Both groups cooperated in the investigation.

• (36) In the case of Acron Group, there was one producer of UAN in the group operating in Russia. The domestic sales of the like product in the IP were made directly to unrelated customers and also indirectly via one related domestic trader. Export sales to the Union in the IP were made directly to independent customers or indirectly through either a related exporter located in Switzerland or a related importer located in France.

• (37) In the case of Eurochem Group, there were two producers of UAN in the group operating in Russia. The domestic sales of the like product in the IP were all made via one of the two related domestic traders. Export sales to the Union in the IP were made solely through a related exporter located in Switzerland and subsequently via a related importer located in Germany. The German related importer was then further selling either directly to unrelated customers or via one of three related traders located in Bulgaria, France and Spain. The latter company still made some part of its sales via another related trader also located in Spain.

3.1.2.   Normal value

• (38) To calculate the normal value, the Commission first examined whether the total volume of domestic sales for each cooperating exporting producer was representative, in accordance with Article 2(2) of the basic Regulation. The investigation found that Acron was producing, selling domestically and exporting to the Union only UAN with nitrogen content of 32 % in the IP. The domestic sales are considered to be representative if the total domestic sales volume of the like product to independent customers on the domestic market per exporting producer represent at least 5 % of its total export sales volume of the product concerned to the Union during the investigation period.

• (39) On this basis, the sales of Acron of the like product on the domestic market were found not to be representative.

• (40) As the like product was not sold in representative quantities on the domestic market, the Commission constructed the normal value for Acron in accordance with Article 2(3) and Article 2(6) of the basic Regulation.

• (41) Normal value was thus constructed by adding the following to the average cost of manufacturing of the like product of the cooperating exporting producer during the investigation period:

• (a) the weighted average selling, general and administrative (‘SG&A’) expenses incurred by the cooperating sampled exporting producer on domestic sales of the like product, in the ordinary course of trade, during the IP; and

• (b) the weighted average profit realised by the cooperating exporting producer on domestic sales of the like product, in the ordinary course of trade, during the IP.

• (42) The costs of manufacturing used for construction of the normal value were adjusted as explained in recitals (52) to (55) and (59) to (60).

• (43) In case of Eurochem, on the basis of the representativity test described in recital (38), it was found that the like product was sold in representative quantities on the domestic market. The investigation found that in the IP Eurochem was producing, selling domestically and exporting to the Union only one product type, UAN with nitrogen content of 32 %.Therefore, the Commission did not have to examine whether the quantities of domestic sales for each product type that is identical or comparable with a product type sold for export to the Union were representative.

• (44) The Commission next defined the proportion of profitable sales to independent customers on the domestic market in order to decide whether to use actual domestic sales for the calculation of the normal value, in accordance with Article 2(4) of the basic Regulation.

• (45) The normal value is based on the actual domestic price for the one product type, irrespective of whether those sales are profitable or not, if:

• (a) the sales volume of the product type, sold at a net sales price equal to or above the calculated cost of production, represent more than 80 % of the total sales volume of this product type; and

• (b) the weighted average sales price of that product type is equal to or higher than the unit cost of production.

• (46) In this case, the normal value is the weighted average of the prices of all domestic sales of that product type during the IP.

• (47) The normal value is the actual domestic price per product type of only the profitable domestic sales of the product types during the IP, if:

• (a) the volume of profitable sales of this product type represents 80 % or less of the total sales volume of this type: or

• (b) the weighted average price of this product type is below the unit cost of production.

• (48) The analysis of domestic sales showed that less than 15 % of all domestic sales were profitable and that the weighted average sales price was lower than the cost of production. Accordingly, the normal value was calculated as a weighted average of the profitable sales only.

• (49) The costs of manufacturing, being part of the cost of production used for the ordinary course of trade test (‘OCOT’) described in recitals (45) to (48), were adjusted as explained in the recitals (52) to (55) and (59) to (60).

• (50) Eurochem claimed that in the calculation of the net domestic sales price an additional allowance should be applied for the SG&A cost of the domestic related trader and for a part of the SG&A costs of the two producers within the same group. It claimed that these costs resulted from a different level of trade of the domestic sales in comparison with the export sales, namely from the fact that, through its related traders, the majority of domestic sales is sold directly to farmers.

• (51) However, such an allowance would not reflect properly the net domestic sales price where normally the SG&A costs of related domestic traders and those of producers are not deducted so that it reflects properly the price paid or payable, at arm's length, in the domestic market. The claim was therefore rejected.

• (52) Natural gas is the main raw material in the manufacturing process of UAN and represents a significant proportion, more than 50 % ⁴, of the total cost of production. Following the claim by the complainant and the findings of previous investigations concerning fertilizers originating in Russia, the Commission examined whether the costs of natural gas associated with the production of the product concerned were reasonably reflected in the records of the Russian exporting producers, in accordance with Article 2(5) of the basic Regulation.

• (53) The investigation found that natural gas prices in Russia are regulated by the State via federal laws and are based on policy objectives. Natural gas prices in Russia do not reflect normal market conditions. Under normal market conditions, prices are mostly set by production costs and profit expectations. In contrast, in Russia prices set by the State are directly applicable to Gazprom, the Russian state-owned gas provider. Gazprom is the biggest gas provider in the country with a market share above 50 % and therefore acts as price-setter. The investigation confirmed this price-setting behaviour, where all other gas providers sell at similarly low prices. In addition, Gazprom is the owner of the pipelines through which all gas, including the one supplied by the independent producers, is transported at tariffs which are also regulated.

• (54) With regard to the gas adjustment, the GOR and the two Russian cooperating exporting producers commented that:

• (a) the prices of natural gas in Russia are not distorted as they reflect normal market conditions, where prices are principally set by production costs and profit expectations; namely the regulated price covers all Gazprom's costs;

• (b) even if the regulated domestic natural gas price of Gazprom were found to be distorted, the gas adjustment should only be applied to the price of gas excluding transportation costs;

• (c) no adjustment should be applied to natural gas purchased from domestic suppliers independent from Gazprom; and

• (d) the Waidhaus price is not a proper indicator of the market-based cost of natural gas.

• (55) In response to those comments, the Commission provisionally concluded that:

• (a) the findings of the investigation did not support the claim that the regulated domestic price covers all the costs of Gazprom. Although Gazprom is a profitable company according to its audited accounts, the profits are generated by the company's export sales due to export prices being much higher than domestic prices. Furthermore, the calculation of the level of the regulated domestic price ⁵ takes into account as one of the factors the projected profits from the supply of gas for export. Therefore, it can be assumed that if Gazprom only had domestic sales, it would not be profitable. In that respect, the Commission observed that, due to the GOR's lack of cooperation, the Commission was unable to examine the details of the calculation of domestic regulated price for Gazprom during the IP. Thus, the Commission concluded that the GOR's intervention on the gas market affects the reliability of Gazprom's reported costs. Indeed, but for this intervention, Gazprom would operate on the basis normal commercial considerations, based on recovery of costs and profit, also with respect to its domestic sales. No evidence was brought to the Commission's attention showing that prices of natural gas were freely negotiated between the both cooperating exporting producers and their suppliers, which are directed to follow the regulated domestic price.

• (b) according to the information received from the Russian cooperating exporting producers ⁶, the Russian State also regulates transportation tariffs (including those of independent companies) if the gas pipelines owned by Gazprom are used ⁷. The Russian State also regulates the prices of logistic support services and supply and services fees.

• (c) as explained in the recital (53), taking into account the dominant position of Gazprom on the Russian gas market, independent suppliers of gas follow the regulated price and thus sell at similarly low levels. This is also confirmed by the audited accounts of the biggest private natural gas supplier in Russia – Novatek ⁸.

• (d) The Waidhaus price was found to be a proper benchmark in previous investigations in which a gas adjustment was made ⁹. Furthermore, in the IP the level of the Waidhaus price was in a close range to other important price quotations in Europe (UK Heren NBP Index, Netherlands TTF DA Heren Index) ¹⁰. Finally, the Commission considered that the US price (US Henry Hub Index), proposed by the Russian interested parties as an alternative benchmark, would not be appropriate taking into account the different geographical region, the different type of natural gas sources (such as shale gas) and the limited possibilities of the US to export natural gas in gaseous form (compressed natural gas or CNG).

• (56) Finally, the GOR and the Russian cooperating exporting producers invoked a recent ruling of the WTO panel in the dispute between Russia and Ukraine in ‘DS493 - Ukraine - Anti-Dumping Measures on Ammonium Nitrate’ which rejected the gas adjustment made by Ukraine.

• (57) It should be noted that the WTO panel report in DS493 concerns a dispute between Russia and Ukraine whereby Russia challenged the determinations reached by Ukraine. The Union was not involved in that case. As noted by the Panel in that case, the question of whether the records of the exporters or producers reasonably reflect the costs associated with production and sale of the product under consideration ‘is a question which needs to be assessed on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the evidence before the investigating authority, and the determination that it makes’. ¹¹ While this in itself already shows the irrelevance of the panel report for the current investigation, the Commission further notes that the panel report is currently under appeal. Therefore, the Commission rejects the comment relating to the panel report.

• (58) For all those reasons, the Commission rejected those claims and considered the gas adjustment warranted under Article 2(5) of the basic Regulation as confirmed by the Court of Justice ¹².

• (59) Following those findings, the Commission, as in previous investigations concerning fertilizers originating in Russia, adjusted the Russian cost of natural gas by replacing the distorted Russian domestic price with an undistorted international benchmark price (‘gas adjustment’). As a benchmark price, the Commission used the so-called Waidhaus price, which is the price of exported Russian gas at the German/Czech border. The price was duly adjusted to ex works-level of the Russian producers.

• (60) There are four sequential intermediate inputs in the production of UAN (i.e. ammonia, nitric acid, ammonium nitrate solution and urea). Natural gas is used to manufacture ammonia. After adjusting the cost of natural gas in the cost of manufacturing of ammonia, the Commission replaced the adjusted cost of manufacturing of ammonia in the cost of manufacturing of the second intermediate product, nitric acid, of which ammonia is a direct raw material. This ‘cascade effect’ went on, allowing the gas adjustment to be passed-on to the ammonium nitrate solution, then to urea and finally to UAN.

• (61) Because of the high profitability of Acron's domestic sales, the gas adjustment did not impact the normal value calculated for Acron. All of Acron's domestic transactions of the company still remained profitable after the gas adjustment. Therefore, in the construction of the normal value for Acron, as described in recital (41), the increase in the cost of manufacturing was exactly counterbalanced by a decrease in the profit made on the profitable domestic sales.

3.1.3.   Export price

• (62) As explained in recitals (36) to (37), the cooperating Russian exporting producers exported to the Union either directly to independent customers or through related companies acting as importers, exporters or traders.

• (63) Where the exporting producers exported the product concerned directly to independent customers in the Union, the export price was the price actually paid or payable for the product concerned when sold for export to the Union, in accordance with Article 2(8) of the basic Regulation.

• (64) Where the exporting producers exported the product concerned to the Union through related companies acting as an importer, the export price was established on the basis of the price at which the imported product was first resold to independent customers in the Union, in accordance with Article 2(9) of the basic Regulation. In this case, adjustments to the price were made for all costs incurred between importation and resale, including SG&A expenses and dilution costs; and for a reasonable profit.

• (65) With regard to dilution costs, specific for this case, the Russian exporting producers exported only UAN with a nitrogen content of 32 % during the IP. The related importers, however, sold to the independent customers UAN with a nitrogen content of either 32 % or less. Therefore, where the product concerned was diluted with water to achieve lower nitrogen content, the adjustment mentioned in recital (64) also included the additional costs of dilution incurred by the related importer.

3.1.4.   Comparison

• (66) The Commission compared the normal value and the export price of the Russian cooperating exporting producers on an ex-works basis.

• (67) Where justified by the need to ensure a fair comparison, the Commission adjusted the normal value and/or the export price for differences affecting prices and price comparability, in accordance with Article 2(10) of the basic Regulation. Adjustments were made for import charges and indirect taxes; discounts, rebates and differences in quantities; transport, insurance, handling, loading and ancillary costs; credit cost; SG&A costs of the related exporters including mark-up.

3.1.5.   Dumping margins

• (68) For the Russian exporting producers, the Commission compared the weighted average normal value of the like product with the weighted average export price of the product concerned, in accordance with Article 2(11) and 2(12) of the basic Regulation.

• (69) On that basis, the provisional weighted average dumping margins expressed as a percentage of the CIF Union frontier price, duty unpaid, are as follows: 31,9 % for Acron and 34,0 % for Eurochem.

• (70) The CIF price used to calculate the dumping margins was constructed for each transaction (based on transfer prices in case of related importer resales) on the border where custom clearance took place, which might not be the same border where the goods physically crossed the Union border.

• (71) For all other potential exporting producers in Russia, the Commission established the dumping margin on the basis of the facts available, in accordance with Article 18 of the basic Regulation. To this end, the Commission determined the level of cooperation of the Russian exporting producers. The level of cooperation is the volume of exports of the cooperating exporting producers to the Union expressed as proportion of the total export volume — as reported in Eurostat import statistics — from the country concerned to the Union.

• (72) The exports of the Russian cooperating exporting producers constituted 100 % of the total exports from Russia to the Union during the IP. On that basis, the Commission decided to base the residual dumping margin at the level of the cooperating company with the highest dumping margin, namely Eurochem Group.

• (73) The provisional dumping margins, expressed as a percentage of the CIF Union frontier price, duty unpaid, are as follows:

Company	Provisional dumping margin
Acron Group	31,9 %
Eurochem Group	34,0 %
All other companies	34,0 %

3.2.   Trinidad and Tobago

3.2.1.   Normal value

• (74) MHTL, the cooperating exporting producer, appeared to be the only producer of the product concerned in TT during the investigation period.

• (75) The Commission first examined whether MHTL's total volume of domestic sales was representative, in accordance with Article 2(2) of the basic Regulation.

• (76) As there were no sales of a like product on the domestic market, the Commission constructed the normal value in accordance with Article 2(3) and 2(6)(b) of the basic Regulation.

• (77) The normal value was constructed by adding the following to the average cost of production of the like product of the cooperating exporting producer during the investigation period:

• (a) the actual amounts of SG&A expenses applicable to production and sales, in the ordinary course of trade, of the same general category of products incurred by MHTL in the domestic market of TT;

• (b) the actual amount of profit applicable to production and sales, in the ordinary course of trade, of the same general category of products realised by MHTL in the domestic market of TT.

• (78) In its post-verification submission of 12 December 2018, MHTL commented that the Commission should use the SG&A applicable to the production and sales, in the ordinary course of trade, of the same general category of products it had incurred in the domestic market of TT. Since MHTL provided sufficient justification that such approach would be in line with Article 2(3) and (6) of the basic Regulation, the Commission accepted this claim.

• (79) In accordance with Article 2(3) and 2(6)(b), the Commission also used the profits made by MHTL on sales, in the ordinary course of trade, of the same product category as mentioned in recital (78).

3.2.2.   Export price

• (80) MHTL exported to the Union only via related companies acting as importers in the investigation period. All sales to the Union were carried out via a related importer in Germany. This related importer sold the product concerned to independent customers in Germany or to related companies in France and Spain, which in turn sold the product concerned to independent customers on their respective national markets.

• (81) Therefore, the export price was established on the basis of the price at which the imported product was first resold to independent customers in the Union, in accordance with Article 2(9) of the basic Regulation. In this case, adjustments to the price were made for all costs incurred between importation and resale, including SG&A expenses and dilution and mixing costs; and for a reasonable profit.

• (82) With regard to the dilution and mixing costs, specific for this case, MHTL exported only UAN with a nitrogen content of 32 % during the investigation period. The related importers, however, sold to the independent customers UAN with a nitrogen content of either 32 % or less. Therefore, in case where the product concerned was diluted with water or mixed with sulphur to achieve lower nitrogen content, the adjustment mentioned in recital (81) also included the additional costs of dilution and mixing incurred by the related importer.

3.2.3.   Comparison

• (83) The Commission compared MHTL's normal value and export price on an ex-works basis.

• (84) Where justified by the need to ensure a fair comparison, the Commission adjusted the normal value and/or the export price for differences affecting prices and price comparability, in accordance with Article 2(10) of the basic Regulation. Adjustments were made for discounts, rebates and differences in quantities; transport, insurance, handling, loading and ancillary costs, and credit cost.

3.2.4.   Dumping margin

• (85) For MHTL, the Commission compared the weighted average normal value of the like product with the weighted average export price of the product concerned, in accordance with Article 2(11) and (12) of the basic Regulation.

• (86) On that basis, the provisional weighted average dumping margin expressed as a percentage of the CIF Union frontier price, duty unpaid, amounts to 55,9 %.

• (87) For all other exporting producers in TT, should there be any besides MHTL, the Commission established the dumping margin on the basis of the facts available, in accordance with Article 18 of the basic Regulation. To this end, the Commission determined the level of cooperation of the exporting producers. The level of cooperation is the volume of exports of the cooperating exporting producer to the Union expressed as proportion of the total export volume — as reported in Eurostat import statistics — from TT to the Union.

• (88) The level of cooperation in this case is high because the exports of the cooperating exporting producer, namely MHTL, constituted 100 % of the total exports from TT to the Union during the investigation period. On that basis, the Commission decided to base the residual dumping margin at the level of MHTL.

• (89) The provisional dumping margins, expressed as a percentage of the CIF Union frontier price, duty unpaid, are as follows:

Company	Provisional dumping margin
Methanol Holdings (Trinidad) Limited	55,9 %
All other companies	55,9 %

3.3.   United States of America

3.3.1.   Normal value

• (90) In the complaint, the complainant provided information that there are at least two producers of UAN in the US. The investigation confirmed that there are more producers of the product concerned than the sole cooperating exporting producer, CFI. It was, however, also apparent that only CFI exported the product concerned to the Union during the investigation period.

• (91) The Commission first examined whether CFI's total volume of domestic sales was representative, in accordance with Article 2(2) of the basic Regulation. The domestic sales are representative if the total domestic sales volume of the like product to independent customers on the domestic market per exporting producer represent at least 5 % of its total export sales volume of the product concerned to the Union during the investigation period. On this basis, the total sales of CFI of the like product on the domestic market were representative.

• (92) The Commission determined that CFI exported only one product type of UAN to the Union in the investigation period, namely UAN with nitrogen content of 32 %. The Commission subsequently identified the product types sold domestically by CFI that were identical or comparable with the product type sold for export to the Union.

• (93) The Commission then examined whether the domestic sales of CFI on its domestic market for the product type that is identical or comparable with the product type sold for export to the Union were representative, in accordance with Article 2(2) of the basic Regulation. The domestic sales of a product type are representative if the total volume of domestic sales of that product type to independent customers during the investigation period represents at least 5 % of the total volume of export sales of the identical or comparable product type to the Union. The Commission established that the domestic sales of the product type identical or comparable with the product type sold for export to the Union were representative during the investigation period.

• (94) The Commission next defined the proportion of profitable sales to independent customers on the domestic market for the product type in question during the investigation period in order to decide whether to use actual domestic sales for the calculation of the normal value, in accordance with Article 2(4) of the basic Regulation.

• (95) The normal value is based on the actual domestic price per product type, irrespective of whether those sales are profitable or not, if:

• (a) the sales volume of the product type, sold at a net sales price equal to or above the calculated cost of production, represents more than 80 % of the total sales volume of this product type; and

• (b) the weighted average sales price of that product type is equal to or higher than the unit cost of production.

• (96) In this case, the normal value is the weighted average of the prices of all domestic sales of that product type during the investigation period.

• (97) The normal value is the actual domestic price per product type of only the profitable domestic sales of the product types during the investigation period, if:

• (a) the volume of profitable sales of the product type represents 80 % or less of the total sales volume of this type, or

• (b) the weighted average price of this product type is below the unit cost of production.

• (98) The analysis of domestic sales showed that 60 to 80 % ¹³ of all domestic sales of the product type that is identical or comparable with the product type sold for export to the Union were profitable and that the weighted average sales price was higher than the cost of production. Accordingly, the normal value was calculated as a weighted average of the profitable sales only.

3.3.2.   Export price

• (99) CFI exported to the Union directly to independent customers.

• (100) In this case, the export price was the price actually paid or payable for the product concerned when sold for export to the Union, in accordance with Article 2(8) of the basic Regulation.

3.3.3.   Comparison

• (101) The Commission compared CFI's normal value and the export on an ex-works basis.

• (102) Where justified by the need to ensure a fair comparison, the Commission adjusted the normal value and/or the export price for differences affecting prices and price comparability, in accordance with Article 2(10) of the basic Regulation. Adjustments were made for import charges and indirect taxes; discounts, rebates and differences in quantities; transport, insurance, handling, loading and ancillary costs and credit cost.

3.3.4.   Dumping margin

• (103) For CFI, the Commission compared the weighted average normal value of the respective type of the like product with the weighted average export price of the corresponding type of the product concerned, in accordance with Article 2(11) and (12) of the basic Regulation.

• (104) On that basis, the provisional weighted average dumping margin expressed as a percentage of the CIF Union frontier price, duty unpaid, amounts to 37,3 %.

• (105) For all other exporting producers in the US, should there be any besides the apparent only exporting producer that is cooperating with the investigation (CFI), the Commission established the dumping margin on the basis of the facts available, in accordance with Article 18 of the basic Regulation. To this end, the Commission determined the level of cooperation of the exporting producers. The level of cooperation is the volume of exports of the cooperating exporting producers to the Union expressed as proportion of the total export volume — as reported in Eurostat import statistics — from the US to the Union.

• (106) The level of cooperation in this case is high because CFI's exports constituted 100 % of the total exports from the US to the Union during the investigation period. On this basis, the Commission decided to base the residual dumping margin at the level of the cooperating exporting producer, namely CFI.

• (107) The provisional dumping margins, expressed as a percentage of the CIF Union frontier price, duty unpaid, are as follows:

Company	Provisional dumping margin
CF Industries Holdings, Inc.	37,3 %
All other companies	37,3 %

4. INJURY

4.1.   Definition of the Union industry and Union production

• (108) The like product was manufactured by 20 known producers in the Union during the investigation period. They constitute the ‘Union industry’ within the meaning of Article 4(1) of the basic Regulation.

• (109) The total Union production during the investigation period was established at around 3,9 million tonnes. The Commission established the figure on the basis of all the available information concerning the Union industry, namely, the Fertilizers Europe production survey and Fertecon (Fertecon being a recognized market intelligence provider on global fertilizers markets). As indicated in recital (12), three Union producers were selected in the sample representing over 50 % of the total Union production of the like product.

4.2.   Union consumption

• (110) The Commission established the Union consumption on the basis of the sales volume of the Union industry on the Union market plus imports from all third countries as recorded in Eurostat.

• (111) Union consumption developed as follows:

Table 1

Union consumption (tonnes)

	2015	2016	2017	IP
Total Union consumption	4 803 732	4 658 736	4 783 671	4 571 721
Index	100	97	100	95
Source: Fertilizers Europe and Eurostat	Source: Fertilizers Europe and Eurostat	Source: Fertilizers Europe and Eurostat	Source: Fertilizers Europe and Eurostat	Source: Fertilizers Europe and Eurostat

• (112) During the period considered, the Union consumption fluctuated with an overall fall of 5 %. In 2016 and the investigation period a drought in key markets of UAN meant that usage by farmers fell as a consequence.

4.3.   Imports from the countries concerned

4.3.1.   Cumulative assessment of the effects of imports from the countries concerned

• (113) The Commission examined whether imports of UAN originating in the countries concerned should be assessed cumulatively, in accordance with Article 3(4) of the basic Regulation.

• (114) That provision stipulates that the imports from more than one country shall be cumulatively assessed only if it is determined that:

• (a) the margin of dumping established in relation to the imports from each country is more than de minimis as defined in Article 9(3) and the volume of imports from each country is not negligible; and

• (b) a cumulative assessment of the effects of the imports is appropriate in light of the conditions of competition between imported products and the like Union product.

• (115) The margins of dumping established in relation to the imports from each of the three countries concerned were above the de minimis threshold laid down in Article 9(3) of the basic Regulation. The volume of imports from each of the countries concerned was not negligible within the meaning of Article 5(7) of the basic Regulation. Indeed, the market shares in the investigation period were 13,4 % for imports from Russia, 8,1 % from TT and 16,2 % from the US.

• (116) The conditions of competition between the dumped imports from Russia, TT and the US and between the dumped imports from the countries concerned and the like Union product were similar. More specifically, the imported products competed with each other and with the UAN produced in the Union because they are sold through the same sales channels and to similar categories of customers. The product concerned is a homogenous commodity and competition took place largely based on price alone.

• (117) Therefore, all the criteria set out in Article 3(4) of the basic Regulation were met and imports from Russia, TT and the US were examined cumulatively for the purposes of the injury determination.

• (118) In a hearing MHTL claimed that imports from TT should not be cumulated on the grounds that i) prices from TT were consistently higher than prices from the US and Russia, ii) import volumes dropped during the period considered (unlike those from the US and Russia), iii) MHTL is part of a European group, iv) MHTL is a price follower and v) TT is a developing country Member of the WTO.

• (119) The Commission rejected those claims. The decision as to whether or not imports should be assessed cumulatively must be based on the criteria set out in Article 3(4) of the basic Regulation, which were met in this case as highlighted in recitals (114) to (117). None of the aspects raised by MHTL could question the appropriateness of examining imports from TT together with those from Russia and US ¹⁴.

4.3.2.   Volume and market share of the imports from the countries concerned

• (120) The Commission established the volume of imports on the basis of Eurostat data. The market share of the imports was established by comparing the volume of imports with the Union consumption.

• (121) Imports into the Union from the countries concerned developed as follows:

Table 2

Import volume (tonnes) and market share

	2015	2016	2017	IP
Volume of imports from the countries concerned (tonnes)	1 051 602	1 581 863	1 647 295	1 723 839
Index	100	150	157	164
Market share	21,9 %	34,0 %	34,4 %	37,7 %
Index	100	155	157	172
Volume of imports from the Russian Federation (tonnes)	339 075	582 906	557 966	613 491
Index	100	172	165	181
Market share	7,1 %	12,5 %	11,7 %	13,4 %
Index	100	177	165	190
Volume of imports from Trinidad and Tobago (tonnes)	488 392	452 194	444 290	368 178
Index	100	93	91	75
Market share	10,2 %	9,7 %	9,3 %	8,1 %
Index	100	95	91	79
Volume of imports from the US (tonnes)	224 136	546 763	645 040	742 170
Index	100	244	288	331
Market share	4,7 %	11,7 %	13,5 %	16,2 %
Index	100	252	289	348
Source: Eurostat	Source: Eurostat	Source: Eurostat	Source: Eurostat	Source: Eurostat

• (122) Imports from the countries concerned increased by 64 % over the period considered. The increase in market share was even more pronounced as the market share of the imports concerned increased by 72 %, from 21,9 % in 2015 to 37,7 % in the investigation period. As consumption dropped by 5 % over the same period, the steep increase in market share by the countries concerned was clearly to the detriment of other market participants.

4.3.3.   Prices of the imports from the countries concerned and price undercutting

• (123) The Commission established the prices of imports on the basis of Eurostat data. It is important to clarify that the level of these statistical prices might differ from verified prices for co-operating exporting producers as such, as most of the imports from the countries concerned are made through related importers.

• (124) The weighted average price of imports into the Union from the countries concerned developed as follows:

Table 3

Import prices (EUR/tonne)

	2015	2016	2017	IP
Russian Federation	179	130	135	126
Index	100	73	75	70
Trinidad and Tobago	197	151	141	140
Index	100	77	72	71
US	188	137	126	124
Index	100	73	67	66
Countries Concerned	189	138	133	128
Index	100	73	70	68
Source: Eurostat	Source: Eurostat	Source: Eurostat	Source: Eurostat	Source: Eurostat

• (125) Import prices from the countries concerned fell on average by 32 %. In fact the prices of imports from all three of the countries concerned fell between 30 % and 34 % depending on the country. This fall was particularly evident in 2016 when raw material prices (mainly gas) fell. However, in the investigation period import prices fell by 4 %, unlike raw material prices, which went up.

• (126) The Commission determined the price undercutting during the investigation period by comparing:

• — the weighted average prices per product type of the imports from the cooperating exporting producers in the countries concerned to the first independent customer on the Union market, established on a cost, insurance, freight (CIF) basis, with appropriate adjustments for customs duties and post-importation costs; and

• — the corresponding weighted average sales prices per product type of the sampled Union producers charged to unrelated customers on the Union market.

• (127) The Commission normally compares the Union border CIF price of the exporting producers to the ex-works price of the Union producers because such approach usually provides a fair comparison. However, the investigation has revealed that there are exceptional circumstances in this case in that, for around a third of the sales transactions of the sampled Union producers, using the sales price at ex-works level would result in Union industry prices which are not at a level comparable with the import prices in terms of competition.

• (128) Indeed, for those Union industry sales which incurred sea freight for delivery to ports such as Rouen (France) and Ghent (Belgium), it was found appropriate to use the prices for delivery to that port instead of calculating ex-works prices for those sales. Those sales represented around 40 % of the sales of the Union industry. Such approach was considered more accurate than using ex-works prices for the following reasons:

• (i) UAN is a corrosive liquid and transport to users and distributors involves special vehicles and storage facilities. This increases logistics costs to the extent that these costs are often more than 20 % of the sales price of UAN sold in Western Europe and can be up to 30 % of the sales price for certain delivery terms;

• (ii) the two largest producers in the sample are located in Poland and Lithuania whereas the largest markets for UAN are in Western Europe which means that logistics costs are particularly high and involve sea freight; these two producers compete in Eastern Europe on EXW and CIF basis with Russian imports and in Western Europe with delivered prices from Trinidad and Tobago, Russia and the US. In fact, it was observed that the main difference between the selling prices of these producers in Eastern and Western Europe was the amount of these logistic and transport costs;

• (iii) many interested parties, including exporting producers, have indicated that the main point of comparison for UAN prices in Western Europe is the CIF price (plus import duty if applicable) of deliveries to the ports of Rouen (France) and Ghent (Belgium);

• (iv) most imports from the countries concerned in the investigation period were delivered on a CIF basis in large sea freight tankers to Western Europe. This involved almost all deliveries originating in Trinidad and Tobago and the US but also a large quantity of sales from the Russian Federation;

• (v) UAN is a homogenous commodity and therefore the majority of customers purchase the product solely on price;

• (vi) at distributor and end-user level there can be a lack of traceability of the origin of the product concerned because the UAN delivered to Western European ports such as Rouen or Ghent is stored in the same tanks whatever its source; and

• (vii) the competition of sales from the port of delivery was made to the same customers for both imports and Union industry sales using comparable incoterms and was often delivered to customers in the same delivery vehicles.

• (129) Therefore, the Commission concluded that, in order to examine whether there is price undercutting, it is appropriate to adjust around a third of the sales transactions of two sampled Union producers so that those sales can be compared in terms of their actual competition with the subject imports. For the two thirds of Union industry sales, which did not involve sea freight, the normal CIF vs ex-works methodology was maintained.

• (130) The price comparison was made on a type-by-type basis for transactions at the same level of trade, duly adjusted where necessary, and after deduction of rebates and discounts. The result of the comparison was expressed as a percentage of the sampled Union producers' turnover during the investigation period. It showed a weighted average undercutting margin of 3,4 % for imports from Russia, 6,2 % for imports from TT and 9,9 % for imports from the US. Bearing in mind that the product concerned is a commodity and that competition is largely based on price alone, and that its prices are very transparent (i.e. known in the market), such a margin is considered significant. A low price difference will make the buyer switch suppliers. This was also confirmed by the replies of representatives of the users.

• (131) In the investigation period, comparing the sales prices on a type-by-type basis for transactions at the same level of trade, imports from the countries concerned undercut the prices of the Union industry by 6,8 % on average.

4.4.   Economic situation of the Union industry

4.4.1.   General remarks

• (132) In accordance with Article 3(5) of the basic Regulation, the examination of the impact of the dumped imports on the Union industry included an evaluation of all economic indicators having a bearing on the state of the Union industry during the period considered.

• (133) As mentioned in recital (13), sampling was used for the determination of possible injury suffered by the Union industry.

• (134) For the injury determination, the Commission distinguished between macroeconomic and microeconomic injury indicators. The Commission evaluated the macroeconomic indicators on the basis of data contained in the questionnaire response of Fertilizers Europe. These data related to all Union producers. The Commission evaluated the microeconomic indicators on the basis of data contained in the questionnaire replies from the sampled Union producers. Both sets of data were found to be representative of the economic situation of the Union industry.

• (135) The macroeconomic indicators are: production, production capacity, capacity utilisation, sales volume, market share, growth, employment, productivity, and magnitude of the dumping margin.

• (136) The microeconomic indicators are: average unit prices, unit costs, labour costs, inventories, profitability, cash flow, investments, return on investments, and ability to raise capital.

4.4.2.   Macroeconomic indicators

4.4.2.1.   Production, production capacity and capacity utilisation

• (137) The total Union production, production capacity and capacity utilisation developed over the period considered as follows:

Table 4

Production, production capacity and capacity utilisation

	2015	2016	2017	IP
Production volume (tonne)	4 238 411	3 695 546	4 253 903	3 890 476
Index	100	87	100	92
Production capacity (measuring unit)	8 055 000	8 205 000	8 385 000	8 385 000
Index	100	102	104	104
Capacity utilisation	53 %	45 %	51 %	46 %
Index	100	86	96	88
Source: verified questionnaire reply of Fertilizers Europe	Source: verified questionnaire reply of Fertilizers Europe	Source: verified questionnaire reply of Fertilizers Europe	Source: verified questionnaire reply of Fertilizers Europe	Source: verified questionnaire reply of Fertilizers Europe

• (138) In the Union, UAN is normally produced at integrated chemical sites. These sites convert gas and nitrogen into nitrogen based fertilisers and other similar industrial products such as melamine. The production process involves various stages such as ammonia and nitric acid production and is therefore heavily reliant on access to sources of gas (the main ultimate raw material) via pipelines or terminals and is highly capital intensive. Producers can switch production between end products but this ability is limited and varies between producers. This depends on the configuration of the integrated site and on the producer's customer base. Each company aims to maximise the profitability of the site as a whole. Nevertheless, this investigation focuses solely on UAN.

• (139) Overall production of UAN fell by 8 % over the period considered. Production dropped strongly in 2016, when imports from the countries concerned increased by 50 % as compared to the year before and demand was affected by a drought in key markets of UAN. Although the situation improved in 2017, falling UAN prices and profitability led to some Union producers to switch production to other nitrogen based fertilizers in the investigation period. Where this switch in production was not possible on an economic basis, Union producers suffered production shut-downs.

• (140) Production capacity increased by 4 % whereas capacity utilisation fell by 12 % over the period considered. As noted in recital (138), production capacity as well as capacity utilisation for this type of production and industry can be affected by the production of other products which can be produced on the same production equipment and that is indeed reflected in these trends.

4.4.2.2.   Sales volume and market share

• (141) The Union industry's sales volume and market share developed over the period considered as follows:

Table 5

Sales volume and market share

	2015	2016	2017	IP
Sales volume on the Union market (tonnes)	3 348 196	2 796 506	2 934 634	2 645 143
Index	100	84	88	79
Market share	69,7 %	60,0 %	61,3 %	57,9 %
Index	100	86	88	83
Source: verified questionnaire reply of Fertilizers Europe	Source: verified questionnaire reply of Fertilizers Europe	Source: verified questionnaire reply of Fertilizers Europe	Source: verified questionnaire reply of Fertilizers Europe	Source: verified questionnaire reply of Fertilizers Europe

• (142) The sales volume of the Union industry was calculated on a macro basis of sales to unrelated and related parties. However, a small quantity of such sales (around 3 % of the total) consisted of resales of production from imports of various sources. Such sales are excluded from the above sales volume figures as they should comprise only sales of production of Union producers. In order to avoid double-counting these resales were also excluded from the consumption figures at recital (114). On this basis the Union sales volume of the Union industry fell by 21 % over the period considered. The volume of sales lost over this period is close to the volume of increased sales by the countries concerned.

• (143) The market share of the Union industry fell by 17 % over the period considered. This development was a result of poor market conditions, especially low prices, which meant that Union sales volume was lost to imports from the countries concerned.

4.4.2.3.   Growth

• (144) The above figures in respect of production, sales volume and market share demonstrate that the Union industry was not able to grow, either in absolute terms or in relation to consumption, over the period considered.

4.4.2.4.   Employment and productivity

• (145) Employment and productivity developed over the period considered as follows:

Table 6

Employment and productivity

	2015	2016	2017	IP
Number of employees	2 164	2 029	2 104	2 005
Index	100	94	97	93
Productivity (tonne/employee)	1 959	1 821	2 022	1 940
Index	100	93	103	99
Source: verified questionnaire reply of Fertilizers Europe	Source: verified questionnaire reply of Fertilizers Europe	Source: verified questionnaire reply of Fertilizers Europe	Source: verified questionnaire reply of Fertilizers Europe	Source: verified questionnaire reply of Fertilizers Europe

• (146) In view of the deteriorating market circumstances, the number of employees of the Union industry fell by 7 % over the period considered. Nevertheless, as production decreased even more, productivity still fell by 1 % over the period considered.

4.4.2.5.   Magnitude of the dumping margin

• (147) All dumping margins were significantly above the de minimis level. The impact of the magnitude of the actual margins of dumping on the Union industry was substantial, given the volume and prices of imports from the countries concerned.

4.4.3.   Microeconomic indicators

4.4.3.1.   Prices and factors affecting prices

• (148) The weighted average unit sales prices of the sampled Union producers to unrelated customers in the Union developed over the period considered as follows:

Table 7

Sales prices in the Union

	2015	2016	2017	IP
Average unit EXW sales price in the Union to unrelated customers (EUR/ tonne)	176	130	127	127
Index	100	74	72	72
Unit cost of production EXW (EUR/ tonne)	146	115	123	130
Index	100	79	84	89
Source: verified questionnaire replies of the sample of Union producers	Source: verified questionnaire replies of the sample of Union producers	Source: verified questionnaire replies of the sample of Union producers	Source: verified questionnaire replies of the sample of Union producers	Source: verified questionnaire replies of the sample of Union producers

• (149) Sales prices fell by 28 % over the period considered and the unit cost of production fell by 11 %. The largest fall in prices was in 2016, when low-priced imports from the countries concerned increased by 50 % and demand was slightly weaker. The trend of cost of production was mainly determined by fluctuations in gas prices. However, the increases in costs in 2017 and the investigation period were not matched by corresponding sales price increases for the like product which were thus further suppressed.

4.4.3.2.   Labour costs

• (150) The average labour costs of the sampled Union producers developed over the period considered as follows:

Table 8

Average labour costs per employee

	2015	2016	2017	IP
Average labour costs per employee (EUR)	24 876	24 323	27 143	27 410
Index	100	98	109	110
Source: verified questionnaire replies of the sample of Union producers	Source: verified questionnaire replies of the sample of Union producers	Source: verified questionnaire replies of the sample of Union producers	Source: verified questionnaire replies of the sample of Union producers	Source: verified questionnaire replies of the sample of Union producers

• (151) The average labour costs per employee of the sampled Union producers increased by 10 % over the period considered. Labour costs per employee increased especially in 2017 when production and productivity increased.

4.4.3.3.   Inventories

• (152) Stock levels of the sampled Union producers developed over the period considered as follows:

Table 9

Inventories

	2015	2016	2017	IP
Closing stocks (tonnes)	83 826	54 411	72 814	38 961
Index	100	65	87	46
Closing stocks as a percentage of production	3,7 %	2,7 %	3,2 %	1,8 %
Index	100	71	85	49
Source: verified questionnaire replies of the sample of Union producers	Source: verified questionnaire replies of the sample of Union producers	Source: verified questionnaire replies of the sample of Union producers	Source: verified questionnaire replies of the sample of Union producers	Source: verified questionnaire replies of the sample of Union producers

• (153) Closing stock and stock as a percentage of production fell over the period considered. However, as stock as a percentage of production is low throughout the period and closing stocks are subject to seasonal variations this factor is not considered to be a meaningful indicator of injury in this investigation.

4.4.3.4.   Profitability, cash flow, investments, return on investments and ability to raise capital

• (154) Profitability, cash flow, investments and return on investments of the sampled Union producers developed over the period considered as follows:

Table 10

Profitability, cash flow, investments and return on investments