14.12.2004 Official Journal of the European Union L 3673 COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 2117/2004 of 7 December 2004 extending the suspension of the anti-dumping duty imposed by Commission Decision No 2730/2000/ECSC on imports of coke of coal in pieces with a diameter of more than 80 mm originating in the People’s Republic of China THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 384/96 of 22 December 1995 on protection against dumped imports from countries not members of the European Community (1), (the basic Regulation), and in particular Article 14(4) thereof, Having regard to the proposal submitted by the Commission after consulting the Advisory Committee, Whereas: A. PROCEDURE (1) By Decision 2730/2000/ECSC(?), the Commission imposed a definitive anti-dumping duty of EUR 32,6 per tonne on imports of coke of coal in pieces with a diameter of more than 80 mm (coke 80 +) originating in the People’s Republic of China (the PRC), falling within CN code ex 2704 00 19(TARIC code 2704 00 19 10). () By Decision 2004/264[EC(}) (the Decision), the Commission suspended the definitive anti-dumping duty for a period of nine months, with effect from 20 March 2004. B. GROUNDS FOR EXTENDING OF THE SUSPENSION (3)  Article 14(4) of the basic Regulation provides for the possibility of suspension of anti-dumping measures in the Community interest on the grounds that market conditions have changed temporarily to an extent that injury would be unlikely to resume as a result of such a suspension. The anti-dumping measures may be suspended by a decision of the Commission for a period of nine months. Article 14(4) further specifies (*) OJ L 56, 6.3.1996, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 461/2004 (OJ L 77, 13.3.2004, p. 12). (®» OJ L 316, 15.12.2000, p. 30. Decision as amended by Council Regulation (EC) No 997/2004 (O] L 183, 20.5.2004, p. 1). () OJ L 81, 19.3.2004, p. 89. that the suspension may be extended for a further period, not exceeding one year, if the Council so decides on a proposal from the Commission. Following the suspension of the definitive anti-dumping duty by the Decision, the Commission has, in accordance with recital (15) of the Decision, continued to monitor the market situation of coke 80 +. In addition to the analysis of the imports from the PRC, a questionnaire was sent to all parties concerned requesting data on production, sales in volume and in prices on the Community market and profitability for 2003 and the first six months in 2004. Replies were received from both the complainant and user industries. Four Community producers cooperated: three from EU-15 (complainant industry) and one from Poland. Twelve companies representing both the stone- wool and foundry industries also cooperated. Imports from the PRC As to the volume of imports into the Community from the PRC, it was found that during the first six months of 2004 the volume of imports of the product concerned had decreased by 4% compared to the same period in 2003. Based on the experience of previous years, it seems, however, that more imports are normally made during the second half of the year. Indeed, in this case the comparison of the volume of imports between January and June 2004 and the last six months of 2003 shows a decrease of 11 %. With regard to prices, the average price of coke 80+ during the first six months in 2004 increased by 107 % compared to the average price in 2003. On average, the unit price was EUR 124 per tonne in 2003 and EUR 256 per tonne during the first six months of 2004. It is noted that during the first five months of 2004 there was a slight increase, from EUR 110 to EUR 140, and that in June the price rose to EUR 403.