The United States International Trade Commission (ITC) today determined that an industry in the United States is materially injured or threatened with material injury by reason of imports of certain ammonium nitrate from Russia that the Department of Commerce has determined are sold in the United States at less than fair value.

Chairman Stephen Koplan, Vice Chairman Deanna Tanner Okun, and Commissioners Lynn M. Bragg, Marcia E. Miller, and Thelma J. Askey voted in the affirmative. Commissioner Jennifer A. Hillman did not participate in this investigation.

This investigation was suspended by the U.S. Department of Commerce on May 19, 2000, as a result of a suspension agreement. The final phase of the investigation was continued in response to a request by the Committee for Fair Ammonium Nitrate Trade (COFANT) to continue the investigation. As a result of the Commission's affirmative determination, the suspension agreement will continue in effect. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Commerce may direct the U.S. Customs Service to impose antidumping duties on imports of certain ammonium nitrate from Russia if the suspension agreement is violated or terminated.

The Commission's public report Certain Ammonium Nitrate from Russia (Investigation No. 731- TA-860 (Final), USITC Publication 3338, August 2000) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigation.

Copies may be obtained after September 4, 2000, by calling 202-205-1809 or from the Office of the Secretary, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Requests may also be made by fax to 202-205-2104.

Product Description: The imported product subject to this investigation is solid, fertilizer- grade ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3), whether prilled, granular or in other solid form, with or without additives or coating, and with a bulk density equal to or greater than 53 pounds per cubic foot. Specifically excluded from this scope is solid ammonium nitrate with a bulk density less than 53 pounds per cubic foot (commonly referred to as industrial-grade or explosive-grade ammonium nitrate).

Status of Proceedings:

1. Type of investigation: Final antidumping.
2. Petitioner: Ad hoc Committee for Fair Ammonium Nitrate Trade (COFANT) Air
   Products & Chemicals, Inc., Allentown, PA; El Dorado Chemical Co., Oklahoma City,
   OK; Mississippi Chemical Corp., Yazoo City, MS; Nitram, Inc., Tampa, FL; LaRoche
   Industries, Inc., Atlanta, GA; and Wil-Gro Fertilizer, Inc., Celina, TX. 
3. Investigation instituted by the USITC: July 23, 1999.
4. USITC hearing: July 11, 2000.
5. USITC vote: August 2, 2000.
6. USITC notification of the U.S. Department of Commerce: August 14, 2000
   (administrative deadline).


U.S. Industry:

1. Number of producers of subject ammonium nitrate: 10.
2. Location of producers' plants: AL, AR, FL, GA, MO, MS, NE, OK, WA, and WY.
3. Employment of production and related workers in 1999: 449.
4. U.S. producers' U.S. shipments (excluding exports) in 1999: 2.1 million short tons,
   valued at $213.3 million.
5. U.S. apparent consumption in 1999: 2.6 million short tons, valued at $258.7 million.
6. Ratio of subject imports from Russia to U.S. apparent consumption in 1999: (1).


U.S. Imports in 1999:

1. From the subject country (Russia): (1).
2. From countries not subject to investigation during 1999: (1).