Air-con firms upbeat as Argentina scraps probe
Exports of Thai air-conditioners to Argentina, a key emerging economy in Latin America, are expected to surge now that the country has scrapped an anti-dumping investigation into the products.
Buenos Aires launched an anti-dumping investigation into Thai air-conditioner exports in February 2010. It recently ended the investigation after Thailand submitted a report showing exporters were not engaged in price dumping.
Anti-dumping duties would have subjected Thai air-conditioners to higher levies, dealing a serious blow to exporters' competitiveness.
Surasak Riangkrul, deputy director-general of the Foreign Trade Department, said the ending of the investigation would lead to increased export opportunities for Thai products, as importers would be more confident about ordering products from Thailand.
He also warned exporters to maintain proper practices, as Argentina could always re-launch its anti-dumping investigation in the future.
Air-conditioners are one of Thailand's major exports. Exports of the product were worth US$1.64 billion (Bt49.2 billion) in the first half of the year, up 36 per cent year-on-year.
Major markets include Japan, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam and India. Exports to Argentina account for 0.096 per cent of the Kingdom's total air-conditioner export value.
