Suspicion arises on export duty of silicon metal from China.

TEX reported that a suspicion of evading the duty on export of silicon metal from China has arisen. In order to evade or to reduce the duty of 15% on export of silicon metal from China, the case to make an application for export declaration with a similar commodity number to silicon metal has been revealed and, therefore, the customs procedure to make an application for export declaration of silicon metal from Chinese ports, mainly Amoy port of Fujian province, is being more strictly managed by the customs offices concerned.

It is not known yet how extent does this strict management of the customs procedure influence on quantity of silicon metal to be exported from China but, from July when this suspicion has come up to the surface, the procedure at customs offices for export of Chinese silicon metal is being strictly managed.

Code Nos for export of silicon metal have consisted of two numbers of No 280461-000 for Si 99.99% minimum and No 280469-000 for Si 99.99% maximum. The exports of silicon metal from China under these two Code Nos are imposed by the duty of 15%.

Apart from silicon metal, silicon carbide has existed as silicon product but the Central Government of China has already enforced the regulations for export of silicon carbide by means of making up the quota system. Code Nos to be applied to silicon carbide are No 284920-000 (for silicon carbide in general) and No 284920-090 (for silicon carbide excluding that with size arrangement).

The parties concerned in silicon carbide said that the case to export silicon metal from China by means of applying for this Code No has really disappeared from the beginning of 2010.

Source : steelguru.com