SA Acts Against Dumping of Chinese, Thai Washing Machines

Top load washing machines imported from China and Thailand are the latest products to encounter anti-dumping duties from the South Africa's International Trade Administration Commission (Itac).

- Amanda Visser

The imported washing machines will carry provisional anti-dumping duties for the next six months ranging between 8% and 67%.

Itac found evidence that importers from these two countries are dumping their product in the Southern African Customs Union (Sacu) region, causing material harm through, among others, price undercutting and price suppression.

The dumping has led to a decline in sales volumes, productivity and growth for appliances giant Defy, the largest producer of the product in South Africa.

Defy's application was submitted in July last year, and the period in which the dumping allegedly took place was 1 April, 2023, to 31 March last year.

The investigation was initiated on 25 October last year. Itac is allowed a maximum of 12 months from initiation date to complete an anti-dumping probe.