To protect the local gypsum board industry from unfair competition, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has officially imposed anti-dumping duties on standard gypsum boards imported from Thailand, the department said in a news release.
Gypsum boards are the drywall panels used in construction, commonly reinforced with paper or paperboard.
After a formal investigation, the Tariff Commission found that cheaper imports from Thailand were hurting the only local manufacturer, Knauf Gypsum Philippines Inc., by undercutting prices and forcing it to sell below cost just to stay competitive.
The DTI is now imposing extra charges—or anti-dumping duties—on imported gypsum boards from Thailand for several years:
- Gypman Tech Company Limited: 8.52% of the export price
- Thai Gypsum Products PCL: 9.18%
- All other Thai exporters (who did not participate in the investigation or are new to the market): also 9.18%
These duties are meant to level the playing field by offsetting the unfair pricing advantage of these imported products.
New exporters can still enter the Philippine market but new Thai exporters who didn’t ship gypsum boards to the Philippines during the investigation period can request a New Shippers Review. They need to prove they aren’t connected to any companies already hit by duties. While the review is ongoing, no extra duty will be collected from them.
This decision follows a petition filed by Knauf Gypsum Philippines. The Tariff Commission found that the influx of cheap, dumped gypsum boards from Thailand caused material injury to the local industry. Not only were they sold at unfairly low prices, but these imports also significantly hurt local business performance, leading to price suppression and losses.
When the DTI first found signs of dumping in late 2024, it ordered importers to pay a cash bond as a temporary safeguard. Now that final duties have been set and are lower than the bond amounts in some cases, the excess payments will be refunded to importers.
The DTI order (Administrative Order 25-05) will take effect after the period for filing appeals lapses or if no appeal is made. The Bureau of Customs will then issue the final implementation order.
Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina Aldeguer-Roque emphasized that protecting local industries from unfair imports is a top priority, especially with many global markets slowing down.
“Our commitment is to create an environment where domestic industries can effectively compete with imports. These industries are essential to our economy in providing jobs and stable incomes for Filipino families,” she said.
This move is aligned with the Anti-Dumping Act of 1999, which allows the government to take action against imported goods sold below fair market value if they hurt the local industry.
