India's float glass industry, which is battling a slowdown in demand, has sought anti-dumping duty on glass imports from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The Directorate-General of Anti-Dumping and Allied Duties in the Commerce Ministry is investigating complaints of dumping filed by the domestic glass sector, represented by Gold Plus Glass Industry, HNG Float Glass Ltd, and Saint-Gobain Glass India. According to industry representatives, a number of float glass lines have emerged in West Asia during the last few years, thanks to cheap funds and the extraordinarily low cost of gas. These companies are now selling glass in India, shipped mainly through Mumbai, at prices lower than their cost of production. The price of gas for these float glass makers is just about $0.75 a million British thermal unit (mBtu), whereas it is about $16.5 for Indian manufacturers. For every dollar difference in gas pricing, the impact on the price of glass is $7-8 per tonne. It is claimed that glass manufacturers in Saudi Arabia and the UAE enjoy not only cheaper gas, but their interest costs - called administrative charges - are as low as 2%. Another element of cost as far as glass is concerned is the cutting, packing and transporting charges, which adds nearly 40% to the cost, according to industry officials.
